MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Nigeria lifted its nearly 2-month-old ban for 113 foreign tankers to enter the territorial waters for loading Nigerian crude oil or gas, the Lloyd’s List news outlet reported Thursday, citing a letter from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corp (NNPC).
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari signed a directive on July 15, banning the 113 oil tankers from the country's waters in what reportedly was part of efforts to crack down on illegal crude oil trading.
The letter, dated September 8, reportedly stated that Buhari had decided to allow more than 100 banned crude tankers into the country’s territorial waters, on the condition that terminal operators provide a “letter of comfort” guaranteeing that the vessels would not be used for illegal activity.
On July 27, the Nigerian president stated that at least 250,000 barrels of crude oil were stolen in the country daily.