United States oil major ExxonMobil has been linked to theft through illegal petroleum lifting operations in Nigeria.

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has therefore written the Nigerian military high command to notify it of illegal oil lifting activities of the oil giant at Bonny River Terminal, Nigeria.

According to the letter dated June 8, 2023 and addressed to the Chief of Defence Staff, Lucky Irabor, NMDPRA, Nigeria’s oil industry regulor stated that theft of Nigeria’s oil is being facilitated with the active connivance of ExxonMobil who has illegally destroyed the locks on the sea-line valve whose keys are in the custody of the Authority.

The actions of ExxonMobil and Barumk Gas, the agency noted,  “constitute economic sabotage, criminal damage and theft of Nigeria’s national resources.”

The letter, signed by NMDPRA ‘s Chief Executive, Farouk Ahmed, was titled “Economic sabotage, criminal damage and theft through illegal petroleum lifting operations at Bonny River Terminal”.

NMDPRA, in the letter, alleged that ExxonMobil, a key player in the Nigerian oil and gas sector, was lifting Butane at the terminal with the vessel, marked Barumk Gas without the authorisation or participation of NMDPRA, the agency of Government statutorily responsible for regulating operations at the Terminal.

The letter reads in parts: “The urgent attention of the Chief of Defence Staff is drawn to the illegal petroleum lifting operations taking place at Bonny River terminal.

“The vessel Barumk Gas is lifting Butane at Bonny River Terminal without the authorisation or participation of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, which is the agency of government statutorily responsible for regulating operations at the terminal.

“This unlawful action is being facilitated with the active connivance of ExxonMobil, who have illegally destroyed the locks on the sea-line valve whose keys are in the custody of the Authority.”

NMDPRA urged the security agency “to urgently prevent the sailing out of Barumk Gas until investigations into the matter are concluded.”

“You are by this letter kindly requested to urgently prevent the sailing out of Barumk Gas until investigations into the matter are concluded”, the letter added.