Nigeria says it will soon deploy unmanned drones to curb oil theft
by The Associated Press
Response stems from $35M of oil pilfered daily in Africa's largest producer
ABUJA, Nigeria—An official of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation says the organization will deploy drones across the territorial waters of Africa’s largest oil producer to help curb the rampant oil theft.
The organization’s Managing Director Ibe Kachikwu said Tuesday in a statement that the corporation was launching an “armada of approaches” aimed at ending theft within eight months, including changing staff at the loading bays of crude oil export terminals every 90 days.
Kachikwu says the corporation is also looking at arming the navy with equipment to help them with their patrols and working with law enforcement to increase its presence in the area to protect pipelines. Some $35 million worth of oil is stolen daily in Nigeria.
