Nigeria’s long-standing oil theft problem is increasingly shifting from remote creeks and offshore pipelines into civilian communities, markets, and transport corridors. The recent exposure of Owaza Mami Market in Ukwa West, Abia State, as a hub for stolen crude oil and artisanal refining highlights this worrying trend.
On January 24, 2026, a joint operation by Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited and government security agencies uncovered warehouses stocked with crude and refined petroleum, generators modified to run on crude oil, and active refining equipment—all hidden within a seemingly ordinary roadside market along the Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway.
Security officials note that criminal groups are deliberately embedding operations in populated areas to reduce costs, gain faster access to buyers, and complicate enforcement. Similar patterns have been reported across Rivers, Imo, Abia, and Delta states. Analysts describe these networks as highly organised, with intelligence, logistics, and local support allowing suspects to evade authorities via undocumented escape routes.
The economic and environmental toll is severe. Billions of dollars are lost annually, government revenue declines, and artisanal refining contaminates soil and waterways, threatening public health and livelihoods. Experts warn that raids alone are insufficient; permanent solutions require follow-through prosecutions, closure of illegal access points, and economic alternatives for host communities.
The Owaza operation underscores that oil theft in Nigeria is no longer confined to isolated locations. It has become embedded in daily life, making detection and intervention increasingly complex, and presenting a new challenge for authorities tasked with safeguarding the nation’s petroleum resources.
Leave a comment