Chief of the Naval Staff Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla announced on Tuesday that Nigerian oil production has increased to between 1.6 and 1.7 millions barrels per week after government tightened security measures to combat crude theft.

Ogalla reported that crude production in Nigeria, a country which is a part of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, was 1.2 million barrels / day during February. Shell, the oil major has left Nigeria.

The naval chief stated that "we have increased surveillance and enforcers in oil-producing areas".

The Nigerian Navy is currently deploying 12 ships to the oceans in order to prevent oil theft and protect the oil industry. "We have already arrested 16 ships."

Ogalla claimed that the police force had blocked the channels used to sell illegally refined petrol products.

Heineken Lopobiri, the country's Oil Minister said that Nigeria can produce six million barrels per day of crude oil with sufficient investment in its energy industry.

He said that Nigeria, and other African countries oil-producing lack capital to explore and develop their oil and natural gas. Chijioke Ahuocha wrote the article; Jan Harvey edited it.

(source: Reuters)