Nigeria has lost at least $1.35 billion to oil theft in the first half of 2019, Gov. Godwin Obaseki who heads a federal committee to check pipeline vandalism, said Thursday.
At least 22.6 million barrels of oil were “stolen” between January and July, and there is the risk of $2.7 billion worth of oil being stolen in two years, he said.
Mr Obaseki said figures showing the “huge losses” were provided to his 13-member committee by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.
Mr Obaseki spoke to journalists after the National Economic Council meeting in Abuja. He said his committee had identified the reasons for the losses and had made recommendations to the government.
