Nigerian officials are implementing greater measures to combat theft and vandalism of Nigeria’s oil pipelines, Platts reported. Thieves steal an estimated 250,000 b/d of oil and an estimated $6b a year in revenue – crucial for a country which receives 80% of its income from oil. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation revealed that thieves punctured the corporation’s pipelines in 2,557 points between January and November 2015.

“The more programs and models brought in to curb pipeline vandals, the better technology often deployed by the vandals. However, in line with the directives of the President [Muhammadu Buhari] to ensure zero tolerance against crude oil theft and pipeline vandals, the measures put in place have started achieving positive results,” Oil Minister, Emmanuel Kachikwu, said.

Nigeria production capacity is around 3.2mb/d of crude, but industry officials said large scale oil theft and pipeline sabotage have limited production to around 2mb/d. President Buhari has made ending the sabotage his top priority for his government.