Amachree Petitions Tinubu, Warns of Rivers Instability

President Bola Tinubu faces mounting pressure after a petition accuses the Federal Government of destabilising Rivers State and calls for action against Minister Nyesom Wike.

A petition accusing the Federal Government of destabilising Rivers State and shielding powerful officials has placed President Bola Tinubu under growing pressure, with analysts warning that silence could carry serious consequences for oil stability, regional peace, and Nigeria’s global standing.

Navy battles illegal refiners, deactivates 71 sites, recovers 411,000 litres of crude

In a hide-and-seek effort that is yet to tackle the menace, the Nigerian Navy says its Special Forces deactivated no fewer than 70 illegal refinery sites and confiscated over 400,000 litres of stolen crude oil. The Navy said the exercise took place across the Niger Delta in July 2025 alone. This is contained in a monthly operational update issued on Friday by Commodore Ayiwuyor Adams-Aliu, the Director of Naval Information, in Abuja. Adams-Aliu said the intensified operations under the ongoing Operation Delta Sanity, were part of its effort to curb crude oil theft and other forms of economic sabotage within Nigeria’s maritime domain. According to him, the crackdown led to the discovery and destruction of 120 dugout pits, illegal storage facilities, and various equipment used in crude oil theft and illegal refining across Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, and Akwa Ibom States. He said the Navy denied oil thieves access to about 411,400 litres of crude oil, 87,825 litres of illegally-refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), 72,000 litres of Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK), and 21,900 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). Providing key highlights of the operation, Naval spokesman said the troops had in July 4, discovered and deactivated illegal refining sites with over 66,000 litres of suspected crude and 40,000 litres of refined AGO at Ogba, Egbema, and Ndoni in Rivers. He added that the operations conducted on July 14 led to multiple arrests and seizures in Akwa Ibom and Delta States, involving smuggling attempts to Cameroon and the uncovering of underground reservoirs containing thousands of litres of stolen crude oil. According to him, two large-scale illegal operations were dismantled on July 22 and 23, in Biseni Community, Bayelsa, with over 450,000 litres of crude oil recovered. Adams-Aliu noted that its personnel also intercepted several wooden boats used for smuggling PMS and other petroleum products, and arrested six suspected smugglers. He reaffirmed the navy’s resolve under the leadership of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, to stamp out oil theft and boost national oil production. According to him, navy’s operations have contributed to the recent milestone announced by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), confirming that Nigeria’s oil production has now exceeded 1.8 million barrels per day. “The Nigerian Navy remains resolute in its mission to ensure maritime safety, deter illicit activities, and uphold national security within the nation’s maritime domain,” he said. NAN reports that in a recent report released by the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Nigeria lost a whopping 619.7 million barrels of oil valued at N16.25 trillion to theft between 2009 and 2020. NEITI, however highlighted a reduction from 36.69 million barrels lost in 2022 to 7.68 million barrels in 2023. This decrease, it said, is attributed to improved resource management and enhanced security measures

Scrapping Of Niger Delta Ministry: Asari Dokubo Disagree with Tinubu

Mujahid Asari Dokubo, former President of the Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide, has openly condemned the Nigerian government’s recent decision to dissolve the Niger Delta Ministry, highlighting this move as part of a long-standing trend of overlooking the region’s interests.  Dokubo, a vocal advocate for the region, argued that the removal of the ministry represents a setback for the people of the Niger Delta, who have historically struggled for recognition and fair access to resources derived from their land. In his remarks, Dokubo explained that the Niger Delta Ministry was initially established as a response to the demands of local communities who sought a dedicated institution to address their unique developmental challenges.  This ministry, he noted, had come into existence through significant sacrifices made by various Niger Delta communities, which include the Ijaw and Ogoni, in the pursuit of better resource management and regional development. Alhaji Dokubo, who spoke on a TV breakfast show, also voiced his discontent with the current classification of the Niger Delta, which he believes has been diluted over time to include regions outside the Niger Delta’s core geographical area.  He expressed disappointment that such political changes undermine the ministry’s original purpose, making it more challenging to secure the resources and development needed for genuine Niger Delta communities. While addressing whether the ministry was dissolved due to inefficiency, Dokubo rejected this reasoning, pointing to systemic corruption as a broader issue across Nigeria, rather than one specific to the Niger Delta.  He concluded by emphasizing the need for laws that genuinely support the Niger Delta, while expressing frustration over the lack of substantial development frameworks in the country.

Military Takes Down 53 Illegal Refining Sites, Apprehends 19 Suspects

Military Takes Down 53 Illegal Refining Sites, Apprehends 19 Suspects

In a significant operation, troops of Operation Delta Safe have eliminated 53 illegal refining sites, captured 19 suspected oil thieves, and recovered stolen products. The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, revealed these accomplishments during a press briefing in Abuja, where he also highlighted the military’s ongoing efforts to combat crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region. Furthermore, the military successfully dismantled 54 dugout pits, 66 boats, 138 storage tanks, 253 cooking ovens, two pumping machines, eight speedboats, 17 hoses, 18 drums, and two cylinders used in these illegal operations. Notably, they recovered a significant quantity of stolen crude oil, illegally refined AGO, and DPK. Additionally, troops neutralized a criminal, rescued three hostages, and seized a fabricated rifle, 18 vehicles, and one flashlight. Operation UDO KA in the South East resulted in the arrest of suspected IPOB/ESN members in Ebonyi and Imo States, along with the neutralization of five terrorists, the apprehension of 12 suspected criminals, and the rescue of seven kidnapped hostages. The troops also recovered various weapons and explosives, which were subsequently handed over to the relevant authorities. These operations have been pivotal in uncovering and dismantling criminal ‘safe havens’ used by extremists across various theatres of operation as criminals have been exploiting national parks, game reserves, and forests as hideouts, with disturbing activities discovered in some of these camps, shedding light on the horrific acts committed by these extremists.

Nigerian Army will stamp out oil theft, pipeline vandalism —COAS

COAS reaffirms military’s commitment to Nigeria’s democracy

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Maj.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja has said the Nigerian Army under his watch will stamp out oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the country’s Niger-Delta region. Lagbaja gave this assurance during an interactive session with media executives on in Ibadan as part of activities marking the 2023 Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL). “The Army will focus on the situation in the Niger-Delta region, just as it will not also lose focus on what is happening in other parts of the country in line with the mandate of the current government,” he said. Lagbaja said this was necessary since most of the country’s oil and gas infrastructure are in the South-South region, pointing out that 90 percent of Nigeria’s revenue are from the sector. He expressed concern that pipelines’ vandalisation and oil theft in the Niger-Delta region have affected the country’s revenue generation, stating that urgent steps must be taken to curb the situation. “The President has said that the nation is bleeding from all these. The money is not just there to do what we used to do in the past. “This has led to the removal of oil subsidy and the floated exchange rate, while other reforms have also been put in place. “Riding on the ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda of the President, the Nigerian Army under my watch will stamp out oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger-Delta,” Lagbaja said. The COAS further said that he would also not lose focus on banditry in the North-West. ”I know that people desired to go back to their farms and live normally as law-abiding Nigerians. “We will work to defeat banditry and kidnapping which are being operated freely in some communities. ”We will therefore entrench there in the North-West the stability we have achieved in the North-East region. “We want a situation where people can wake up by 2 a.m. and be confident to engage in their legitimate business. “In those days, truck owners/drivers transport fish from Baga to Onisha and leave Baga by 2 a.m. without any fear of insecurity. “So, we want to return to that era where people live peacefully in Plateau and parts of Southern Kaduna and other places where we are currently experiencing security challenges,” he said. The COAS also said it was gratifying to note that the Nigerian Army was frequently called upon to address various security challenges confronting Nigeria. ”This is because the Army has been found to be reliable and meeting Nigerians’ expectations. “We are not complaining about the frequent calls, because we are the people’s Army.” The activities of the 2023 Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) are ongoing, together with the 160th Anniversary of the Nigerian Army.

Hold Shell accountable for Rivers’ oil spills, Oilwatch tells HYPREP  

Hold Shell accountable for Rivers’ oil spills, Oilwatch tells HYPREP  

Oilwatch Africa has called on the Hydrocarbons Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) to hold Shell Petroleum Company for recent oil spills in Rivers State. Oilwatch Africa is a civil society organization with a focus on the environment. According to a statement recently in Abuja by the CSO’s, Media and Communication Lead, Miss Kome Odhomor, two major oil spills within a week in Rivers State, is an indication that oil companies are yet to show seriousness about ensuring maintaining their facilities. “It is quite alarming that rather than remediating the harms, more investments are being made to expand the areas of threat. New investments in the fossil fuels sector and incessant new oil spills threaten to push the world into climate catastrophe and expose the wrongheaded pathway taken by nations when they gather at COPs for climate negotiations. “One oil spill was reported from a pipeline owned by Shell in Eteo community on June 13, 2023, while another occurred at Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State on Sunday, June 18, 2023, in Oke-Olebo stream which is the only source of fresh water for the community,” the statement reads. A member of the Oilwatch steering committee, Nnimmo Bassey, reacting to the spill said “We have always advocated for a cleaner environment and we charge the Hydrocarbons Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) to take into account the new oil spills that threaten to derail the ongoing cleanup process. Steps should be taken to ensure accountability by offending parties”. Oilwatch Africa Coordinator Salome Nduta expressed dissatisfaction over the action of oil companies in Nigeria and across Africa. He said, “Recently at the just concluded Africa Energy Summit held in the UK, it showed that Africa is not just a geographical location but it is also a cow that should be milked dry for the gains of her captors. Polluters should be held accountable for loss and damage inflicted on communities in Africa”. Oilwatch Africa called on the Nigerian government to take charge and ensure the proper clean-up of polluted sites as well as payment of compensation for damages suffered. “As a group, we further charge all African governments to invest in renewable energy taking into consideration the true cost of extraction which is causing more harm than good to her peoples,” the group said.