Nigeria’s oil and gas pipelines, managed primarily by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), are critical to the nation’s economy.However, repeated incidents of pipeline vandalism and oil theft have cost the nation trillions of naira. (Tinubu,NNPCL must act fast!)
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has expressed its intent to improve energy security and national revenue, but without leveraging advanced technologies, these ambitions may fall short.
Therefore, as a cybersecurity expert with academic grounding in shipping management and computer science,
Additionally, I strongly advocate for the deployment of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems and robust cybersecurity frameworks by NNPCL under the leadership of President Tinubu.
Therefore, these tools offer transformative potential in addressing age-old issues of vandalism, corruption, and lack of transparency in the oil sector.
The Need for Modern Monitoring: A Wake-Up Call for Tinubu’s Government
Nigeria lost over N4.325 trillion to crude oil theft between 2017 and 2021, with more than 7,143 recorded pipeline vandalism cases.
In April 2025, sabotage attacks on Oando’s pipelines in Bayelsa disrupted production and triggered emergency maintenance—just one of many cases.
President Tinubu’s government cannot afford to overlook the role of technology in stopping these losses.
Therefore, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), as the gatekeeper of our oil assets, needs to modernize its monitoring and operational systems using SCADA and cybersecurity technologies.
SCADA Systems: The Backbone of Pipeline Monitoring
SCADA systems provide real-time data on pipeline pressure, temperature, flow rates, and valve activity. Here’s how they benefit NNPCL and align with Tinubu’s reform agenda:
– Anomaly Detection: Detects unauthorized interference or leaks instantly.
– Remote Access: Allows engineers to control and shut down specific sections of the pipeline remotely, reducing damage.
– Operational Data Logging: Collects and archives data to ensure accountability and compliance.
– Integration with Leak Detection: Works seamlessly with acoustic and fiber optic sensors for enhanced accuracy.
Therefore, with SCADA in place, NNPCL can identify the exact amount of crude being transported.
Morealso, when— capability that would have prevented many past incidents of crude diversion and sabotage.
Cybersecurity Measures for Oil Infrastructure
Additionally, Pipeline infrastructure today is digitized and connected, making it vulnerable to cyber threats.
By embedding cybersecurity tools such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems (IDS), and multi-factor authentication into its operations, NNPCL can defend against malicious attacks.
However, president tinubu’s administration must recognize that cybersecurity is no longer optional. A single breach could cost the nation millions or give hackers control over critical oil facilities.
For instance, in 2019, cyber-attacks on oil companies in the Middle East disrupted operations for days; such an attack on Nigeria’s unprotected infrastructure could be catastrophic.
Enhancing Transparency with Advanced Tools – TINUBU NNPCL
Apart from SCADA, TINUBU & NNPCL can deploy other digital tools to improve operational transparency and efficiency:
1. Smart Pigging: Inspects the internal condition of pipelines for structural integrity.
2. GIS Mapping: Offers visual tracking of pipeline routes and potential threat zones.
3. Drone Surveillance: Monitors remote locations and detects illegal tapping in real-time.
4. AI & Machine Learning: Predicts future threats by analyzing historical data patterns.
5. Satellite Monitoring: Tracks environmental changes and unauthorized activity from space.
6. RTUs (Remote Terminal Units): Collects field data and relays it back for decision-making.
7. Cloud-Based SCADA: Enables real-time updates and remote collaboration.
8. Blockchain Technology: Ensures transparent and tamper-proof oil transaction records.
9. Flow Meters: Monitors the flow and calculates exact crude volume transported.
10. Digital Twin Technology: Creates virtual replicas of pipelines for simulations and diagnostics.
These technologies collectively provide the capability to determine the exact number of barrels of crude oil transported per day.
This would allow NNPCL to make such data publicly available and improve national trust. It will also aid President Tinubu’s transparency goals and contribute to real-time audit trails.
Learning from Saudi Arabia: Transparency as National Duty
For Example, Saudi Arabia’s state-run oil firm, Saudi Aramco, publishes daily updates on oil production and export figures. Citizens are aware of the exact number of barrels lifted from the soil daily.
This fosters national accountability and global investor confidence.
President Tinubu and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) must take decisive steps to emulate global best practices.
Specifically, by integrating SCADA systems, drone surveillance, smart pigging, digital twins, and advanced flow meters, NNPCL can begin providing Nigerians with real-time updates on daily oil output.
Consequently, this level of operational transparency would significantly curb internal theft, actively discourage illicit trading, and ultimately enhance the credibility of the Tinubu-led administration.
Imagine waking up each day to precise data on the volume of crude oil lifted from the Niger Delta—such clarity would empower citizens and stakeholders alike.
Therefore, President Tinubu’s commitment to revamping Nigeria’s energy sector can only yield meaningful results when it is backed by robust, technology-driven solutions.
Without a doubt, SCADA systems and comprehensive cybersecurity frameworks—when combined with ten other intelligent monitoring tools— will position NNPCL to effectively safeguard our pipelines, minimize national revenue losses, and foster sustainable transparency.
More importantly, let Tinubu’s administration be remembered not just for promises but for concrete actions that modernize how Nigeria monitors and manages its most valuable natural resource.
Additionally, Let NNPCL not only rise to the occasion but also lead the charge across Africa as a model of technological transformation and data transparency.
Indeed, It is time for the Tinubu government to drive this much-needed change with urgency and vision.
Let NNPCL become the benchmark for innovation, security, and openness in Africa’s oil and gas sector.
Ogunsuyi Kehinde David
Cybersecurity Expert, Gospel Musician, and Maritime Technologist
Tinubu | NNPCL
