Military drones deployed as Nigeria loses billions to oil theft gangs

An abandoned illegal refinery in Bayelsa, Nigeria. Some 200,000 barrels per day are siphoned off pipelines across the Niger Delta region. © AP/Sunday Alamb

Nigeria is ramping up its battle against oil theft in the Niger Delta, aiming to boost national production to 3 million barrels per day and address energy insecurity.

Oil exports make up 80 percent of Nigeria’s revenue, with current production at 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd), placing the country among the world's largest oil producers.