Shina Bankole, an executive of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has said that Nigeria lost over 130 million barrels of crude oil production from January to November 2016 due to the activities of 32 militant groups in the oil-rich Niger Delta region.
Speaking in Lagos on Monday, November 28, 2016 at the 17th Health Safety and Environment (HSE) Biennial Conference on the Oil and Gas Industry in Nigeria organised by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Bankole, who is also the general manager in charge of security at Chevron Nigeria Limited, said insecurity in the Niger Delta had led to the proliferation of several militant groups, as well as small arms and weapons.
Bankole, who is the vice chairperson of the Security Subcommittee of the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) of the LCCI, made this disclosure at the same time that Ibe Kachikwu, Nigeria’s minister of state for petroleum said that that President Muhammadu Buhari’s Petroleum Industry Roadmap will stabilise the region for oil and gas business.
Bankole added that between January and November, 58 incidents of sabotage were recorded where oil and gas facilities belonging to the oil companies were vandalised.
“Again, within the same period, the rate of sabotage on oil and gas assets has led to lost production opportunities by the oil companies. As of today, more than 130 million barrels of crude oil have been lost due to the inability of the oil companies to produce as a result of the activities of the militants,” he added.
He said with the rehabilitation of about 30,000 ex-agitators, the Amnesty Programme introduced in 2009 by the federal government had successfully restored normalcy to the oil-producing region until 2015 when new militant groups began to emerge.
“The resurgence of militancy since 2015 has led to the proliferation of militant groups. As of today, no fewer than 32 of such groups have emerged in the Niger Delta – some with possible ethnic agenda, while others came with a criminal agenda,” he said.
Bankole disclosed that of the over 275 cases of kidnappings recorded across 29 states between January and November, 45 cases were related to oil and gas industry personnel and their dependants.
According to him, of the 99 incidents of sea robberies and pirates recorded within the same period, 19 cases involved the oil and gas industry.
