The Nigerian Navy has deactivated 468 illegal refinery sites and arrested 215 suspected oil thieves, along with 26 vessels, in 2024 as part of Operation Delta Sanity. This was revealed by Rear Admiral Ibrahim Dewu during a press briefing in Abuja to mark the Navy’s 69th Anniversary.
He noted that the Navy also seized about 6.5 million litres of stolen crude oil and seven million litres of illegally refined AGO. Authorities also destroyed 361 wooden boats, 1,107 dugout pits, and 279 storage tanks used for illegal activities. Since January, over 103 more illegal refineries have been dismantled, with 34 additional suspects arrested.Dewu added that 39 wooden boats and one ship used in oil theft were also seized, and 773,000 litres of crude oil and 150,000 litres of refined products have been recovered this year.
He stated that these operations have helped boost Nigeria’s oil production in line with President Tinubu’s directive to end oil theft and increase exports.As part of the Navy Week celebrations (May 23–June 1), Dewu highlighted the Navy’s transformation into a key maritime force in West Africa and its ongoing role in securing the Gulf of Guinea.
Through advanced surveillance systems like Falcon Eye and Regional Maritime Awareness Capability, the Navy maintains constant monitoring of Nigeria’s waters, contributing to the country’s continued zero-piracy status according to the International Maritime Bureau.Notably, in April 2025, the Navy seized vessels involved in crude oil theft and destroyed several illegal refineries during Operation Delta Sanity II.
