Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: pipeline vandalism

  • Nigerian Navy Heightens Maritime Surveillance to Combat Crude Oil Theft

    Nigerian Navy Heightens Maritime Surveillance to Combat Crude Oil Theft

    The Nigerian Navy has deployed high-speed interceptor boats and drone technology to the Niger Delta to intensify operations against illegal oil bunkering and pipeline vandalism that continue to drain foreign exchange earnings.

    The Chief of Naval Staff said the new assets will provide real-time surveillance for remote creeks and offshore assets, cutting response time and tightening control of maritime corridors.

    The Navy also announced a collaboration framework with private security firms and local communities to improve intelligence and disrupt the logistics chains that support illegal refining.

    Echotitbits take: Crude oil theft remains one of Nigeria’s biggest revenue leakages. Drone-led surveillance can change the game, but the real test is whether enforcement reaches the high-level ‘godfathers’ behind the theft—not only the foot soldiers in the creeks.
    Source: The Punch – https://punchng.com/navy-backs-fgs-2-5mbpd-oil-projection-by-2027/ 2026-01-27

    Photo Credit: The Punch

  • Gas constraints squeeze power plants again, raising blackout fears nationwide

    Gas constraints squeeze power plants again, raising blackout fears nationwide

    Photo Credit: Punch
    2025-12-17

    Premium Times reports that the Nigerian Independent System Operator says electricity generation dipped after gas supply constraints linked to pipeline vandalisation reduced fuel availability to several plants.

    In parallel, Vanguard quotes Enugu Electricity Distribution Company attributing reduced supply across the South‑East to “low system frequency resulting from gas constraints” affecting generation companies.

    Together, the updates point to a familiar bottleneck: Nigeria’s grid remains highly sensitive to gas disruptions, so even a localized upstream incident can cascade into national load‑shedding and lower customer allocations.

    As the festive season drives higher demand, distribution companies are likely to continue issuing notices on reduced load allocation, while grid managers lean on hydro dispatch and contingency measures to keep frequency stable.

    Premium Times (NISO statement): “electricity generation on the national grid has dropped due to gas supply constraints arising from… gas pipeline vandalisation…”

    Vanguard (EEDC): EEDC blamed the drop on “low system frequency resulting from gas constraints affecting electricity generation companies.”

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: The short-term fix is operational (gas restoration + grid re-dispatch), but the longer game is investment and security for gas infrastructure. Watch for repair timelines, any further sabotage reports, and whether TCN publishes updated allocation figures.

    Source: Punch — December 17, 2025 — https://punchng.com/blackout-looms-as-gas-shortfall-hits-power-stations/