The Nigerian Navy says its sustained anti-crude oil theft operations in the Niger Delta have significantly contributed to the increase in Nigeria’s daily crude oil production.
The Chief of Policy and Plans, Rear Admiral Akinola Olodude, disclosed this on Thursday during an international press conference held in Abuja to kick off activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary celebration.
Olodude said the Navy, in collaboration with other security agencies, has intensified operations against crude oil theft, illegal refining, and pipeline vandalism across the Niger Delta in line with the Federal Government’s directive to raise oil production.
According to him, the operations have helped boost Nigeria’s average crude oil output from 1.258 million barrels per day in January 2023 to 1.71 million barrels per day as of April 2026.
He noted that the operations form part of broader efforts to support the Federal Government’s target of increasing crude oil production to three million barrels per day by 2030, with an interim target of 2.5 million barrels per day by 2027.
The Navy also highlighted the role of its Special Boat Service and other maritime assets in ongoing counter-terrorism, counter-insurgency, and internal security operations across the country.
Olodude added that the Global Firepower Report 2026 recently ranked the Nigerian Navy as the strongest naval fleet in Africa, attributing the feat to sustained fleet recapitalisation and operational successes.
