The Senate’s Ad Hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft has met with the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to strengthen collaboration in tackling crude oil theft in the Niger Delta. Led by Senator Ned Nwoko (APC–Delta North), the committee visited the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, describing the meeting as a critical step in confronting what it calls one of Nigeria’s most pressing economic threats. Nwoko emphasized the need for tighter security around critical oil infrastructure and called for improved intelligence sharing between the police and the Senate to combat oil-related crimes effectively.
In response, IGP Egbetokun expressed the police force’s full commitment to supporting the Senate’s efforts. He immediately directed senior officers overseeing operations and intelligence to begin working with the committee, pledging that the police would deploy intelligence-led strategies to dismantle oil theft networks. Egbetokun also highlighted the integration of human rights training in police academies, noting that the renewed efforts would uphold citizens’ rights while tackling the criminal enterprises behind crude theft.
The scale of the crisis is staggering. According to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Nigeria has lost over 353 million barrels of crude oil to theft between 2002 and 2025. This figure is equivalent to 56.1 billion litres or about 1.2 million 45,000-litre fuel tankers. At an average global crude oil price of $73 per barrel, this translates to an estimated $25.7 billion or ₦39.3 trillion in lost revenue. These figures underline the urgency of the Senate’s mission. Senator Nwoko reiterated the committee’s commitment to working closely with security agencies to end crude oil theft and protect Nigeria’s economic lifeline. He added that the meeting with the police marked a significant turning point in the Senate’s ongoing efforts to develop practical and lasting solutions to the problem.
