For much of the past decade, crude oil theft stood as one of the most damaging threats to Nigeria’s economy, draining public revenue, weakening investor confidence and undermining the credibility of the country’s oil industry. By the time Bayo Ojulari assumed office as Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited in April 2025, the worst phase of the crisis had begun to recede, following a combination of security interventions and policy adjustments. The challenge confronting his administration, however, was how to consolidate those fragile gains and prevent a relapse under new leadership.
Eight months into his tenure, Ojulari’s approach has been defined by continuity and reinforcement rather than disruption. Instead of dismantling existing crude protection frameworks, his leadership has focused on tightening coordination, strengthening accountability and embedding pipeline security into NNPC’s broader commercial strategy. That steadiness has delivered one of the most notable outcomes of 2025: the restoration of near-100 per cent availability across Nigeria’s major crude oil pipelines.
This achievement stands in sharp contrast to conditions just a few years ago. At the height of oil theft in 2022, several critical pipelines were barely operational. Terminal recovery factors fell sharply, exports were repeatedly disrupted and upstream investment in onshore and shallow-water assets slowed amid mounting risk. The country lost billions of dollars annually, not only through stolen crude but also through deferred production and reputational damage.
By the time Ojulari took office, coordinated efforts involving security agencies, host communities and private contractors had begun to stabilise the situation. What was needed next was institutional consistency. Under his watch, NNPC Ltd announced full availability of key export routes, including the Trans Niger, Trans Forcados, Trans Escravos and Trans Ramos pipelines—arteries that link Nigeria’s oil fields directly to global markets and underpin national revenue flows. Industry observers describe the turnaround not as a sudden breakthrough, but as the result of sustained coordination that Ojulari has deliberately preserved.
A defining feature of this phase has been the reframing of crude security as a commercial imperative rather than a purely law-enforcement challenge. In line with NNPC’s transformation under the Petroleum Industry Act, pipeline losses are now treated as direct hits to corporate performance. By embedding security outcomes into operational and profitability metrics, Ojulari has reinforced accountability across subsidiaries and partner operators, positioning crude protection as a core business function.
Equally important has been the continued emphasis on collaboration. Rather than relying solely on force, NNPC’s anti-theft strategy has maintained a multi-layered approach that combines security agencies, private contractors, technology-enabled monitoring and community engagement. This has improved early detection, deterred large-scale theft and addressed some of the local drivers of vandalism.
In an industry where leadership transitions often unsettle progress, Ojulari’s consolidation of Nigeria’s anti-theft recovery underscores the value of stability. By safeguarding pipeline integrity and anchoring security within commercial discipline, his administration is helping to secure not just barrels of crude, but the credibility and future viability of Nigeria’s oil sector.
James Okafor, a political and energy analyst writes from Abuja.
James Okafor: How Ojulari is consolidating Nigeria’s oil theft recovery, securing the flow
