The chairman, Special Investigative Panel on Oil Theft/Losses in Nigeria, Major General Barry Ndiomu (Rtd ), has revealed how the panel discovered many illicit connections used in diversion of crude.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ conference on oil theft and losses in Nigeria, held at Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Tuesday, Mr Ndiomu said his team discovered “a sophisticated network of complicity between elements from the host communities, security agencies, and industry players, both government and private institutions alike, as well as international collaborators.”

He explained that the conception of the conference is part of the panel’s strategy to obtain additional inputs, information, and data on the subject matter so as to facilitate honest thought-provoking conversations that would inspire solutions to the problem.

The conference, themed “Protecting Petroleum Industry Assets for Improved Economy,” reviewed the various discoveries the investigative panel made.

“This conference marks a climax to months of field visits to locations and facilities on and offshore, extensive engagement across government and non-government stakeholders as well as in-house deliberations aimed at unpacking and unraveling what has become the country’s most troubling debacle”, Mr Ndiomu said.

According to him, the panel visited several sites across the Niger Delta where various illicit connections used for illegal refineries were discovered.

He mentioned the infamous Yokiri Flow Station Area in Burutu Delta state, where several illicit connections on the export line that fed off the TETL were discovered.

“In Owerri, Imo state, a visit to the Walter Smith Modular Refinery revealed the supply challenges the company faces with a massive drop in product volumes when pumped through the export line. Several offshore platforms including the FPSO’S Agbami and Bonga were also visited,” he added.

The event, chaired by the vice president of Nigeria, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, was also attended by various dignitaries and key stakeholders in Nigeria’s petroleum industry.