Oando Pipelines in Bayelsa Rocked by Sabotage, Threatening Nigeria’s Oil Output

 Oando Plc, Nigeria’s leading indigenous energy firm, reported multiple sabotage attacks on its pipelines in Bayelsa State on April 10, 2025, disrupting crude oil flows and raising alarms about Nigeria’s fragile oil sector.

The incidents, targeting the Trans Nembe Creek Trunkline and Oloibiri-Otuogidi lines, caused spills estimated at 5,000 barrels, halting 10% of Oando’s 50,000 barrels-per-day output in the Niger Delta. CEO Wale Tinubu condemned the “criminal acts,” linking them to illegal bunkering syndicates emboldened by weak security. The attacks, confirmed by the Nigerian Navy, mark the third such incident in Bayelsa this year, with losses topping ₦10 billion.

Local communities in Yenagoa and Nembe reported environmental damage, with farmlands and rivers contaminated, sparking protests by 200 youths demanding compensation. Oando deployed cleanup teams, pledging ₦500 million for remediation, but faces scrutiny after a 2024 NOSDRA fine for delayed spill responses.

The sabotage compounds Nigeria’s oil woes—production dipped to 1.3 million barrels daily in March, per OPEC, far below the 2.2 million target, costing $3 billion monthly. Governor Douye Diri called for military patrols, blaming “economic saboteurs” linked to 400 illegal refineries dismantled in 2024.

The Petroleum Ministry vowed to probe, but with 30% of Delta pipelines vandalized yearly, per NNPC, solutions remain elusive. Oando’s shares fell 4% on the NGX, reflecting investor fears as Nigeria grapples with securing its economic