Nigeria has lifted a ban on 113 vessels into its territorial waters, according to a letter from the NNPC seen by Reuters.

The letter, which was dated September 8, stated that the president had approved the consideration of all incoming ships subjected to a letter guaranteeing that they are free and will not be used for any illegal activity.

The letter also added that the president had directed a review of activities of all affected vessels to determine culpability in illegal operations in Nigerian territorial waters.

However Recently, The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Nigerian Security Agencies vowed to deploy drone technology in order to stem crude and petroleum products theft across the country.

To the corporation, the collaboration is to enable the Nigerian Army Engineering Corps take over the pipelines surveillance from the Nigeria Police Force stressing that the Engineering Corps would also be saddled with the responsibility of maintaining the pipelines as well as stating the readiness of the Nigerian military to support the NNPC to secure its oil installations across the country laying emphasis on the NNPC and the Nigerian military being a critical stakeholders in the project.