Oil
Nigeria navy destroys 265 illegal Refineries in Warri
WARRI – The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta, Warri Naval Command said it destroyed 265 illegal refineries and burnt 100, 000 tones of locally refined diesels in the last three weeks.
The illegal refineries and the products were destroyed in two separate operations inside the Warri creeks.
The NNS Delta Commander, Capt. Musa Gemu, who assumed duty in February, told newsmen on Thursday that his command would not condoled illegalities in the creeks.
“We will deal decisively with oil thieves and pipeline vandals in my areas of responsibilities,’’ Gemu warned.
He recalled that on March 15 he led a team of Naval officers to Oteghele Phase one and two forest in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta.
In the operation that lasted over eight hours inside the forest a significant landmark was recorded.
Gemu said the Navy destroyed 260 underground refineries and over 100,000 tonnes of diesels.
He added that five suspects were arrested and two boats, two pumping machines and a generating set were recovered.
Similarly, on April 7, the Navy combed the Isaba forest in Ogbe-Ijoh, Warri South-West and in the process destroyed five illegal refineries and 31 drums of locally refined diesel.
A welding machine and a generating plant were recovered, adding that there was a decline in the illegal activities and the operations were yielding results.
“We can see that the rate of illegal oil bunkering is declining in the creeks. We are able to destroy only five refineries and 31 drums of locally refined diesel.
He assured that the command would not relent on its oars until the illegality was eradicated.
“It is going to be a routine operation until oil theft is nipped in the bud,’’ he said.
Gemu warned the perpetrators to desist from illegal bunkering, noting that it was an economic sabotage, adding that anyone caught would face the wrath of the law.
The commander urged host communities in the oil-rich region to support the Navy to eradicate crude oil theft.
– DAILY TIMES
Modupe ASUDO
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board has reiterated its commitment to advancing gender inclusion and sustainable capacity development in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, spotlighting a $20m Women in Oil and Gas Intervention Fund.
The Board made this known at the 3rd edition of the Diversity Sector Working Group’s Women in Oil and Gas Conference and Mentorship Programme, held on March 3, 2026, at Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos.
The conference, organised in collaboration with the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum, was themed ‘Breaking Barriers, Shaping the Future’, with a strong focus on building bridges and empowering women for a sustainable energy future.
Delivering his goodwill message, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr Felix Omatsola Ogbe, described women’s empowerment as a strategic lever for strengthening Nigeria’s energy ecosystem, particularly at a time the global industry was undergoing profound structural change.
He explained that the sector’s navigation of energy transition, rapid technological innovation and rising sustainability expectations increasingly requires broader perspectives, adaptive leadership and inclusive participation to remain competitive and resilient.
Represented by the General Manager Midstream PCAD, Ms. Lekoma Phimia, the Executive Secretary framed inclusion not as social advocacy but as sound economics, stressing that diversity consistently delivers measurable performance outcomes across industries.
“Inclusive organisations are more innovative, more resilient and more profitable. When women thrive, industries thrive. When women lead, economies grow. When women are empowered, communities prosper,” he stated.
To illustrate this point, the Executive Secretary referenced the leadership impact of Ms. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, Executive Chairman of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, describing her tenure as clear evidence of women’s capacity to drive sector-wide transformation at the highest levels.
According to him, such leadership exemplifies how competence and inclusion are helping to steer the industry through a period of accelerated change.
While acknowledging the progress recorded, Ogbe observed that systemic barriers had continued to limit the full participation of women across segments of the oil and gas value chain, stressing that addressing the constraints requires deliberate, structured and sustained interventions.
At the centre of NCDMB’s empowerment showcase, the Executive Secretary highlighted the Women in Oil and Gas Intervention Fund, a landmark $20m initiative established in partnership with the Nigerian Export-Import Bank to provide affordable financing exclusively to women-owned businesses operating within Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
He explained that the fund offers single-digit interest rate loans with repayment tenors of up to three years, targeted at eligible companies with approved industry contracts. According to him, the initiative is designed to accelerate local capacity and enable women entrepreneurs to transition from peripheral participation to ownership and leadership across the oil and gas value chain.
Ogbe further disclosed that a complementary intervention, implemented in partnership with the Bank of Industry, extends structured business training and additional access to capital to women-owned enterprises. He noted that many beneficiaries have expanded from small service providers into competitive vendors now supporting major oil and gas operators nationwide, particularly in logistics and marine services, safety equipment supply and environmental management — segments where female entrepreneurs have historically faced limited access to financing.
Beyond financing, the Executive Secretary highlighted NCDMB-supported skills development programmes executed in collaboration with institutions such as the Petroleum Training Institute and accredited industrial training centres in Rivers and Bayelsa states. He cited the training of women in welding and fabrication, noting that many graduates are employed in fabrication yards and contribute directly to major oil and gas projects.
“These women are earning dignified livelihoods, breaking stereotypes and inspiring a new generation,” Ogbe said, emphasising that collaboration remains crit