Nigeria has exceeded its crude oil production quota set by OPEC, with the Nigerian Navy intensifying its assault on crude oil theft, including the capture of a vessel suspected of illegally syphoning crude oil in Akwa Ibom State.
The MV MT FILIA was interdicted at the UTUE Terminal during Operation DELTA SENTINEL, it was suspected that the vessel was syphoning crude oil from an oil well terminal jacket.
Preliminary investigations have revealed roughly 650 metric tonnes of crude oil and 32.82 metric tonnes of fuel oil aboard the vessel without proper documents or lawful authority, the Navy said.
The vessel, its 12 crew members and the recovered petroleum products have been put into custody until the conclusion of investigations and possible prosecution, the service said.
Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, the Chief of the Naval Staff stated the Navy is still committed to its efforts to prevent crude oil theft, illegal refining and other maritime crimes affecting Nigeria’s economic interests.
Operation DELTA SENTINEL’s persistent marine security operations, the Navy said, confiscated almost 4.7 million litres of petroleum products from April to June 2026.
It said the stepped-up fight against oil theft had helped Nigeria’s crude oil output to rise to 1.89 million barrels per day in July, above the country’s production quota set by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
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