The Nigeria Police Force is joining forces with the Senate ad hoc committee on crude oil theft in a renewed push to combat the persistent looting of the country’s oil wealth.

Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, made this commitment during a strategic meeting with committee members led by Senator Ned Nwoko at the Force Headquarters in Abuja. The discussions centered on boosting inter-agency coordination to address the widespread theft occurring both onshore and offshore.

Force spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the visit marked a significant step toward aligning law enforcement operations with legislative oversight in the fight against oil-related economic crimes.

Senator Nwoko, who chairs the committee, stressed that Nigeria’s ability to meet its oil production targets depends heavily on curbing large-scale crude theft. He emphasized that the police’s involvement is essential if the committee is to deliver results.

Responding, Egbetokun reassured the lawmakers of the police’s full cooperation, noting that oil theft is a direct attack on national economic stability. He directed senior officers in charge of operations and intelligence to work hand-in-hand with the Senate committee moving forward.

This collaborative push comes amid alarming figures from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, which reveal that over 353 million barrels of crude oil worth an estimated $25.7 billion were illegally siphoned between 2002 and 2025.