Through improved security measures, including gunboats, authorities in Rivers State hope to stop criminals and improve production.
Port Harcourt, Nigeria – At dawn, the dense creeks and swamps of the Niger Delta are enveloped in an eerie silence, which is interrupted only by the intermittent chirping of Herons, a rare water bird found in this part of Nigeria.
Suddenly, in a flash, the water bubbles and convulses, announcing the galloping approach of speedboats.
The boats usually carry heavily armed militiamen, often clad in work overalls, suggesting they are technicians, said Tonye Francis, who lives in the oil-producing Ogu-Bolo community in Rivers State that's been in the shadow of an oil conflict for years.
Also in the boats are several dozen empty mini-drums with hoses attached to the bases, that get connected to a nearby oil pipeline after it has been professionally ruptured, the young man told Al Jazeera.
In no time, the mini-drums get filled with crude oil and loaded into barges. The barges, escorted by speedboats, then make their way out of the inlet – crisscrossing other dense creeks and swamps that dot the area – heading in the direction of a waiting foreign vessel, nautical miles away.
"It feels like a movie scene when these activities are going on," Francis said.
"They [the oil thieves] operate unhindered. Sometimes, those involved are given security cover by their sponsors."
For years, incidents like this one have become common in Rivers State, which prides itself as Nigeria's oil capital. But the scene is also a recurring one across the Niger Delta as thieves try to siphon crude from oil pipelines crisscrossing the region.
"We can't stop them without the support of the military men deployed to the area," Francis said.
Nigeria is one of Africa's leading oil exporters. But the industrial-scale oil theft has posed a major threat to communities and the wider economy. Oil theft costs Nigeria millions of dollars each month; about $23bn in oil revenue was lost in 2022 – one of the highest in recent years.
This forced Nigeria to slip as the continent's largest exporter, according to figures from the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
But it appears to be bouncing back and authorities hope improved security measures to help tackle criminals will let them win the war against oil theft for good.
'Oil theft is a big problem'
Rivers is one of the six states hosting oil installations in the country.
As part of a plan to boost the region's oil production, authorities in the state last week unveiled a batch of military-grade gunboats to help crack down on criminality and oil theft.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, State Governor Siminalayi Fubara explained that "oil theft is a big problem that needs all hands on deck to tackle it."
"These six gunboats donated by my government are meant to support the Nigerian Navy to ensure we drastically reduce the activities of oil thieves," he said.
The gunboats will enhance waterway patrols and response times, especially near submerged oil export pipelines that are prone to attacks, officials said.
"We have set up local vigilantes to support the protection of oil facilities, acquired gunboats, and [are] protecting the ecosystem of the region," Fubara added.
Rivers is home to pipelines that transport crude from other states to its Bonny export terminal, accounting for 6.5 percent of Nigeria's entire revenue.
But for decades, theft has impacted negatively on the overall revenue of a country where about 90 percent of government earnings are generated from oil.
Thousands of oil spill incidents have occurred since oil was discovered in commercial quantities in Nigeria in 1958 – due to the activities of oil thieves. The dip in production often has adverse effects on government revenue.
This has continued to affect the people of the communities in these oil-rich areas. Those who depend on farming and fishing have felt a direct effect on their livelihoods and residents have reported numerous health issues.
To provide alternative opportunities for young people, Rivers State government plans to invest more in health, education and infrastructure in areas at risk of pipeline vandalism.