Fisayo Soyombo Exposes Military’s Oil Bunkering Scandal

Fisayo Soyombo, the founder of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), has made startling allegations about the oil bunkering industry in Nigeria following his release from detention by the Nigerian Army. In his first public interview, aired on Arise TV on Saturday, Soyombo detailed his experiences during an undercover investigation that led to his arrest.

Soyombo revealed the deep entrenchment of corruption within the system, stating that illegal oil bunkerers receive high-level security protection. He expressed shock at the involvement of certain individuals in facilitating these operations, specifically noting, “It would shock you the kind of people who escort illegal oil bunkerers out of Port Harcourt.”

The journalist criticized the Army spokesperson for compromising his safety by publicly linking him to the discovery of illegal bunkerers. Despite this, he acknowledged that not all military personnel are complicit but called for a thorough purge of saboteurs aiding the oil theft network.

Discussing the risks of his work, Soyombo reaffirmed his commitment to uncovering systemic corruption, stating that he would rather stop his investigations entirely than alter his approach. He highlighted the need for accountability and public awareness, saying, “Imagine the story I did on smugglers. People have to know that in their country they can be safe, and we need to expose these wrongdoings.”

Soyombo also suggested that the true scale of crude oil theft in Nigeria is grossly underestimated. He cited an instance during his investigation where 50,000 barrels of crude oil were nearly smuggled out, underscoring the lack of accurate data on daily crude lifting.

Beyond the illegal operations themselves, Soyombo pointed to systemic issues in Nigeria’s oil sector. He emphasized the need for a complete overhaul of supervisory institutions, accusing some officials responsible for oversight of colluding with criminals.

“It is not only oil bunkerers that are thieves but those who are also meant to supervise the sector. What we would need is an overhaul of the system,” he stated.

Soyombo’s revelations come at a time when Nigeria faces significant challenges in curbing oil theft, which continues to drain billions of dollars from the country’s economy annually. His investigative work and recent experiences underline the risks faced by journalists in exposing corruption but also highlight the urgent need for systemic reforms.