Nigeria approves 37 new evacuation routes to bolster oil security, curb theft

The Nigerian government has approved 37 new evacuation routes across the country’s oil-producing regions.

The development, announced during the 24th Nigerian Oil & Gas Energy Week in Abuja by Gbenga Komolafe, chief executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), marks a stride in safeguarding Nigeria’s vital petroleum assets.

The new routes are part of a broader upstream oil and gas strategy anchored in security, sustainability, and economic resilience, as the country seeks to boost production, reduce losses, and support local refining efforts.

These evacuation channels, comprising pipelines, barging routes, and other infrastructure, will enable producers to securely transport crude oil from wellheads and terminals to refineries and export points while mitigating the risks of vandalism and sabotage that have plagued the sector for decades.

“We are expanding evacuation infrastructure to protect production,” Komolafe said. “By working closely with security agencies, the 37 newly approved evacuation routes are being deployed to curb theft, improve accountability, and ensure uninterrupted operations across the upstream value chain.”

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Bolstering Production and Accountability

The announcement comes at a critical time for Nigeria’s oil sector, which has struggled with underproduction and revenue losses driven by widespread pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering. According to Komolafe, the newly sanctioned evacuation routes are not only logistical solutions but also a key part of the government’s drive to restore confidence in Nigeria’s hydrocarbon industry.

“Our efforts are closely linked with the broader Project One Million Barrels initiative, which aims to ramp up daily crude output from 1.46 million barrels per day to 2.5 million barrels per day by 2026,” he said. “With 1.7 million barrels per day already achieved, securing evacuation routes is essential for sustaining this growth trajectory.”

The evacuation expansion is backed by the 2024 Executive Orders signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu—specifically Orders #40, #41, and #42—focused on fiscal incentives, local content development, and cost-efficiency in contracting timelines. These reforms have unlocked over $16 billion in upstream investment within two years, positioning Nigeria as a competitive frontier in global oil and gas.

Boosting Refinery Supply and Domestic Resilience

In addition to deterring oil theft, the enhanced evacuation infrastructure is expected to play a pivotal role in meeting the Domestic Crude Supply Obligation (DCSO), a regulation that mandates producers to supply a percentage of crude oil to local refineries. With major refining capacity such as the 650,000 b/d Dangote Refinery coming online, dependable supply logistics are critical to reducing reliance on fuel imports and strengthening the country’s foreign exchange position.

“Reliable and secure evacuation of crude is the backbone of refinery operations,” Komolafe said. “Our new routes will ensure that domestic refineries receive consistent and safe crude deliveries, which is key to Nigeria’s economic resilience.”

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The NUPRC boss also highlighted that the reforms are bringing tangible benefits to oil-producing communities. Through platforms such as HostComply, transparency and accountability are improving in host community development projects, helping build peace and operational stability.

Security Collaboration and Digitisation

The rollout of the 37 routes is being carried out in conjunction with Nigeria’s security apparatus to prevent the resurgence of illegal activities. Authorities are leveraging real-time surveillance, digitised monitoring platforms, and community-based intelligence to track crude movements along the new corridors.

“This is not just about building routes; it’s about creating a secure and smart logistics network,” Komolafe said. “Digital tools are being deployed to oversee these corridors, with greater oversight on volumes, movement times, and terminal receipts to close leakages.”

To complement this, the NUPRC is also deploying the Advance Cargo Declaration System, which will further increase transparency and traceability in the export segment, acting as a deterrent to criminal networks.