Nigerian Air Force intensifies air operations in oil-rich region
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has significantly ramped up its air interdiction and surveillance efforts in the Niger Delta, delivering a decisive blow to oil thieves and illegal refinery operators. Operating under Operation Delta Safe (AC OPDS), the air component based at the 115 Special Operations Group in Port Harcourt has executed hundreds of precision missions aimed at safeguarding Nigeria’s vital energy infrastructure.
This increased air presence, which spans across multiple southern states, is not only disrupting illegal activities but also driving a measurable recovery in the nation’s crude oil output, a critical lifeline for Africa’s largest economy.
Over 117 missions and 189 sorties conducted in three months
According to Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, NAF aircraft carried out 117 missions and 189 sorties, logging a total of 192 flight hours between May and August 2025. The missions included extensive Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), Armed Reconnaissance, and Pipeline Patrol operations, designed to detect and eliminate illegal oil refining activities.
During these operations, NAF aircraft consumed more than 60,000 litres of Jet A-1 aviation fuel and successfully destroyed numerous illegal infrastructure elements, including 25 cooking tanks, 11 oil reservoirs, and 3 storage drums used for unauthorized refining.
“This renewed push follows the directive of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, for air components to step up operational tempo across all theatres,” Ejodame stated during a briefing on September 19, delivered by Group Captain Abdulafeez Opaleye, Commander of AC OPDS.
Air patrols disrupt sabotage, secure vital oil assets
Group Captain Opaleye emphasized that daily helicopter sorties and jet overflights across the riverine, mangrove, and coastal areas of the Niger Delta have severely disrupted the operations of oil saboteurs.
“Our presence has denied criminal elements access to pipelines, illegal refineries, and logistics networks,” he noted. “The NAF is now a frontline guardian of Nigeria’s economic arteries in the Niger Delta.”
These consistent air operations spanned across Ondo, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River states. Many of these areas are known hotbeds for illegal refining and crude oil theft, which have historically cost Nigeria billions in lost revenue and environmental damage.
Oil production rebounds as airstrikes take effect
NAF’s heightened operations have coincided with a notable improvement in Nigeria’s crude oil output. According to recent industry data, the country produced 1.71 million barrels per day (mbpd) including condensates in July 2025. This includes 1.51 mbpd of crude oil, marking a steady rise compared to earlier months in the year.
The increase has been attributed in part to the dismantling of illegal refining operations and the disruption of oil theft syndicates by NAF and other security forces operating under Operation Delta Safe.
Kinetic and intelligence-driven strategy yielding results
Air Vice Marshal Francis Edosa, NAF’s Chief of Training and Operations, highlighted the significance of combining kinetic operations (such as airstrikes) with intelligence-driven targeting.
“These actions prove that military airpower, when guided by actionable intelligence, can produce not only security outcomes but also tangible economic benefits,” Edosa said. “The fight against oil theft is not only a battle for national security—it is a battle for our economic sovereignty.”
NAF pledges continued commitment to protecting national interests
The NAF reaffirmed its long-term commitment to securing Nigeria’s energy resources and ensuring that the skies over the Niger Delta remain unsafe for criminal elements. The Force stated that ongoing collaboration with ground forces, naval units, and intelligence agencies will be critical in sustaining gains and maintaining pressure on saboteurs.
“NAF remains dedicated to stabilizing the Niger Delta, safeguarding oil revenues, and supporting national development goals,” the statement concluded.
As Nigeria works toward reaching and sustaining higher crude oil output benchmarks, security forces like the Nigerian Air Force are playing a critical role in protecting strategic assets and restoring investor confidence in the nation’s oil sector.
