The Nigerian Navy has announced that between November 2025 and November 2026 it arrested 259 suspects and destroyed 168 illegal refineries across the country.
Illegal refineries, often set up in remote or coastal areas, have long been a source of environmental damage, loss of revenue and security concerns for Nigeria’s oil industry. The Navy’s crackdown is part of a broader national effort to curb oil theft and the illicit processing of crude.
During the 12‑month period, Navy units carried out coordinated raids and dismantlement operations, seizing equipment and arresting individuals involved in the illegal refining network. The 168 facilities were removed, preventing further illegal production and the associated pollution.
Experts say that the removal of these refineries is expected to reduce the country’s annual oil theft losses, which have been estimated in the billions of dollars, and to improve the safety of coastal communities that have been affected by spills and fires.
The Navy’s actions are part of an ongoing campaign to protect Nigeria’s oil resources, a sector that accounts for a large share of the nation’s export earnings and government revenue.
<small>Source: Punch Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
