31/07/2026
Chinese-Owned Oil Vessel Accused of Oil Theft by the Nigeria Navy
www.petroleumnewsngr.com
The Nigerian Navy is publicizing its recent arrest of a Chinese-owned tanker and its crew as part of an ongoing effort that is cracking down on oil theft. It is alleging the vessel had illegally loaded crude oil without the required documentation or lawful authorization.
The command operations officer, Commodore AA Umar, asserted that the tanker Filia (3,158 dwt) had remained within the vicinity of the offshore terminal for more than seven days, during which time it was under surveillance by the Nigerian Navy. He told reporters that they believed the vessel was “waiting for an opportunity to illegally access crude oil facilities.”
The ship, which was built in 1993, has been reported under the ownership of a Hong Kong-based company since March 2026. It is now registered in São Tomé and Príncipe after having operated under the Chinese flag for at least two decades.
Chinese-Owned Oil Vessel Accused of Oil Theft by the Nigeria Navy www.petroleumnewsngr.com The Nigerian Navy is publicizing its recent arrest of a Chinese-o
