By Linus Aleke
The stories of the treacherous exploits of crude oil criminals in Nigeria’s maritime environment no longer interests average Nigerian audience, but what the government, and other critical stakeholders, especially the Nigerian Navy are doing to minimize, if not totally eradicate oil theft and improve maritime security in the nation’s body of waters.
Like the womb of mother earth, which, the Creator of the universe, impregnated with several precious minerals for the good of mankind and other earthly inhabitants, the depth of marine ecosystem, also houses hydrocarbon and other priced aquatic resources, concealed for the prosperity of rational animals.
Regrettably, few local rogue elements, and their international collaborators, are busy pillaging this precious and priced resources put in place by the Creator, for the betterment, wellbeing and progress of the population, for their selfish aggrandizement.
However, this organized criminality in the maritime domain, is not taking place unchallenged, as the Nigerian Navy, is working tirelessly, to outwit these criminals and deny them freedom of action in the overall interest and prosperity of the nation and its population.
Tasked with the constitutional responsibility of securing the nation’s territorial integrity through the waters, the Nigerian Navy, is not resting on its oars, as its latest onslaught against these transnational criminals has attracted a coordinated media attack on the person of the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla.
Fortunately, for the nation, these amorous attacks on the CNS, rather than eclipse the robust military operations against these organized criminals, has emboldened the Service to up its game in strangulating these covert economic saboteurs.
Recall that an online news portal – Peoples Gazette had published a contorted and unverified corruption allegations against Chief of Staff Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla and by extension the Nigerian Navy (NN), for daring to stand up against rogue elements stealing the nation dry.
The said publication, which was laced with falsehood, alleged that, “Mr. Ogalla freed several oil tankers busted for transporting stolen crude off Nigerian shores after receiving kickbacks in millions of American dollars and also rebuffed internal calls to remove his underlings who helped facilitate the scheme —underscoring the steepness of a debased practice that has assailed top players in Nigeria’s oil security and administration for decades. Preliminary investigations estimated Mr Ogalla had accepted over $170 million in bribes over the past six months alone”.
On contract splitting, the ill fated publication, further alleged, “On November 22, 2023, Mr Ogalla awarded 30 contracts to a single firm at $537,672.45 each, totalling $16,130,173.5 ( or N22 billion at prevailing parallel market rates), The Gazette learnt. The procurement for special operations equipment was split into multiple tranches to conceal its total cost and circumvent procurement regulations. Mr Ogalla proceeded with the secret deal in violation of Section 20(2)e of the Procurement Act 2007, which forbids contract-splitting in any form and carries a minimum five-year sentence”.
But in a swift reaction to the above gibberish, the Naval Headquarters in a statement, dismantled the obvious lies, line by line and therefore, brought the false narrative to ridicule before every reasonable men and women in the society.
Signed by the ever articulate Director of Information (DINFO), Rear Admiral Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, the statement reads in part, ”The allegations that the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) accepted over $170 million in bribes as well as alleged involvement in multi-billion naira contract splitting fraud in the last 6 months are untenable, baseless and untrue. Firstly, there are clear procedural requirements in the arrest, detention and release of any vessel or persons found culpable in the maritime environment. It is until these processes are duly concluded that such vessels are released to appropriate prosecuting agencies for further actions. Indeed, all arrested vessels mentioned in the publication that were involved in crude oil theft and illegal oil bunkering are still being investigated and none of such vessels has been released as alleged.
“Secondly, the CNS does not award or oversee oil bunkering contracts; the award of such is the sole prerogative of NNPCL. Thirdly, all contracts awarded by the Navy follow due process in line with the laws of the Federation. The Nigerian Navy (NN) and her roles is an offshoot of the constitutional provisions and duly guided by extant laws and regulations of the land. The policing roles of the Navy empowered her to monitor the maritime domain of the Nation. These among others include arrest of vessels that contravene any of the maritime laws and SPOMO Act 2019”.
Rear Admiral Ayo-Vaughan, noted that
the Nigerian Navy is aware of the coordinated and frantic efforts to blackmail the office and person of the CNS by some disgruntled elements who are feeling the heat of the Service’s renewed vigour to fight crude oil theft and illegalities in the maritime domain as well as those who have in one way or the order shortchanged the Navy before now.
He said, the continuous rejuvenated operations towards curbing oil theft has given the oil thieves sleepless nights hence the decision to engage in the malicious publications, recalling that the Nigerian Navy recently launched OPERATION DELTA SANITY which provided for a holistic, more robust roadmap towards the reinvigorated stance of the NN towards the fight against crude oil theft and other forms of illegalities in the Nation’s maritime environment.
The NN, he said, is aware of these antics as it is expected considering the current resolve of the NN to engage oil thieves head on, adding that the cartel hitherto believed no individual could confront its ranks.
“Fortunately, the recent achievements of the NN in this regard have put them on their heels hence the resort to cheap blackmail through immoral and compromised online media publishers. Pertinently, the NN will continue to ensure legitimate businesses in the maritime domain thrive seamlessly. Also, these distractions will in no way retract the NN’s resolve to confront these criminals who must be brought to justice for Nigeria’s economy to rebound. The security and economy of the Nation is greater than any group of persons that think they must continue to drain the country,” the statement further explained.
The Naval Spokesperson, enjoined the public to discountenance completely the malicious publication that emanated from Peoples Gazette because it is totally untrue and completely baseless being a figment of the shallow imagination of the writer, his publishers, and their unpatriotic sponsors.
Alas, it is heartbreaking to note that the pockets of protest in part of the country is not unconnected to the activities of these criminals who are continuously denying the federation the needed revenue from foreign exchange earnings to put in place the required social safety net for citizens to live a life devoid of deprivation.
Interestingly, the Nigerian Navy has escalated it’s operation in the creek of Niger Delta where crude oil theft and economic sabotage is crawling to its crescendo.
Giving an update on its fight against crude oil theft, between January 4, and February 4, 2024, under the auspices of Operations Delta Sanity, the spokesperson of the Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral Ayo-Vaughan, in a separate statement said that the Nigerian Navy’s Anti Crude Oil Theft (COT)/Anti-Illegal Bunkering effort, currently steered under Operation DELTA SANITY, has yielded tremendous successes.
Admiral Ayo-Vaughan, said, the various Nigerian Navy platforms deployed for the Operation have continued to conduct aggressive patrols to combat Crude Oil Theft and illegal oil bunkering within Nigeria’s Maritime Environment.
He revealed that no fewer that 15 illegal refining sites were destroyed, and five ovens, one reservoir, five dugout pits and 12 wooden boats were appropriately handled during the period under review.
The Spokesperson further noted that oil thieves were also denied about 1,277.9 barrels (203,200 litres) of product suspected to be stolen crude oil and 19,600 litres of illegally refined Automated Gas Oil (AGO) amounting to the sum of One Hundred and Fifty Million, Seven Hundred and Seventy Four Thousand, Two Hundred and Fifty Six Naira, Thirty Two Kobo (N151,774,256.32) only.
He further explained that the 1,277.9 barrels of crude oil at the current price of $82.03 per barrel amounts to a total of $104, 826.137, while 19,600 litres of AGO at the current price of N1,055.57 per litre amounts to a total N20,689,172.
Admiral Ayo-Vaughan, said that review of Operation DELTA SANITY from inception to date revealed that approximately 4,036.7 barrels of crude oil, worth $473,009.589 (N591,498,491.04) and 270,600 litres of illegally refined AGO worth (N157,562,542.57), were denied the oil thieves.
Cumulatively, he said, the sum of One Billion, Fifty Eight Million, Four Hundred and Forty Eight Thousand, Three Hundred and Twenty Six Naira Thirty Three Kobo (N1,058,448,326.33) only that could have been used to perpetrate acts inimical to national security and prosperity was denied oil thieves.
Meanwhile, just last week, the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, hosted the critical stakeholders in the maritime environment, as part of effort to find lasting solutions to oil theft.
Admiral Ogalla said, the Nigerian Navy (NN), is collaborating with critical stakeholders in maritime environment, to evolve impeccable and workable strategies, to permanently deny oil thieves and economic saboteurs, in Nigeria’s territorial waters, and by extension the Gulf of Guinea, freedom of action.
The CNS, made said this, during his meeting with maritime stakeholders at Naval Headquarters in Abuja, on Tuesday.
He also seized the opportunity to reassure the maritime stakeholders of the NN’s commitment to create the enabling environment for legitimate maritime activities to thrive.
The CNS said: “It is my expectation that this meeting will bring about renewed action and a reaffirmation of our commitment to jointly protect our maritime domain. I am hopeful that we will leave here not with words, but with strategies that will assist us in securing a prosperous maritime future for Nigeria. Together, we shall evolve approaches that leave no loophole for the criminal elements and economic saboteurs to exploit”.
Admiral Ogalla said, the meeting, is one of the regular engagements with the NN, aimed at fostering common understanding, synergy and mutual trust among maritime stakeholders.
“Accordingly, the meeting will focus on addressing some pertinent concerns that will strengthen our partnerships and working relationships so that we will all benefit optimally from the maritime environment and foster the nation’s blue economy for Nigeria’s national development. With the crop of sound and progressive minds present at this meeting today, I am optimistic that our deliberations will advance our common comprehension of what is required of us all to contribute meaningfully towards realising the objectives of the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President,” he said.
The CNS, noted that since his assumption of office in June 2023, he had steered the Nigerian Navy towards ensuring maritime security by conducting several operations and emplacing policies aimed at boosting crude oil production and curbing the menace of oil theft.
This, he averred, would not have been possible without stakeholders’ sincere understanding, cooperation and support, adding that “owing to the fact that the collective effort of our maritime stakeholders is required to create a conducive environment for increased oil production and maritime economic activities, the Nigerian Navy has deemed it necessary to call this all important stakeholders meeting”.
Admiral Ogalla posited that the Nigerian Navy has recorded some successes through various operations and bilateral engagements to attain its strategic goals.
The CNS, noted that in realisation of the need to consolidate on gains recorded in its various operations, stressing that, “we have deemed it imperative for us all to jointly look at the salient issues bothering on maritime security, ease of doing maritime businesses and observance of operational procedures among others, for enhanced national security and economic prosperity”.
Meanwhile, the Director of Information, Naval Headquarters, Rear Admiral Ayo-Vaughan, while giving the periodic update on the progress made by operations Delta Sanity, said: “Resultantly, several Illegal Refining Sites (IRS), metal storage tanks, ovens, wooden boats, dugout pits, fibre boats and pumping machines were appropriately handled between 29 January and 4 February 2024. Notably, on 29 January 2024, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER in Rivers State in conjunction with Naval Security Station (NSS) 022, 026 and 028 conducted Recognizance Operations around Elem krakrama Creek and Ke in Degema Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State. During the operations, the team intercepted six wooden boats cumulatively laden with about 600 litres of products suspected to be stolen Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and 566.0 barrels (90.000 Litres) of product suspected to be stolen crude oil. Accordingly, the wooden boats and items were deactivated.
“Similarly, on 29 January 2024, Forward Operating Base (FOB) Formoso at Bayelsa State conducted Ant-COT/Illegal bunkering operation around Brass River, Akassa, and Obama general area in Ogbia. They also conducted Operations in Nembe and Southern Ijaw LGA of Bayelsa State. During the operations, the team discovered four IRS, five ovens and two pumping machines. They also arrested five wooden boats laden with about 704.4 bbls (112,000 litres) of product suspected to be stolen crude oil. Accordingly, the sites and items were dismantled while the products were handled appropriately. Also, on 29 January 2024, FOB Escravos in Delta State conducted anti-COT operations around Saghara Creek in Warri South LGA of Delta State. During the operation, the team visited a previously deactivated IRS which was observed to be under reconstruction. The site had one empty reservoir and five dug out pits. Accordingly, the site was dismantled while items were deactivated.
“In another development, from 29 January – 2 February 2024, NNS SOROH in Bayelsa State in conjunction with Naval Security Stations 030 and Ocean Marine Solution Houseboat Peremebiri conducted Anti-COT/Anti-Illegal Bunkering operation around Ogbotobo and Fish Camp Community in Atala area of Bayelsa State. During the operations, the team discovered a vandalized flowline station belonging to Shell Petroleum Development Company which was recently reactivated. The team also found a newly constructed IRS with two pumping machines, three generators, galvanized pipes, 50 kg gas cylinder, and other construction items. The team also found one wooden boat laden with sacks of about 19,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen AGO. Accordingly, the items, wooden boat and products were towed to a safe location and deactivated. Similarly, on 30 January 2024, Naval Base Oguta in Imo State conducted Anti-COT/Anti-Illegal Bunkering operation in her immediate environs. During the operations, the team discovered one fibre boat laden with about 7.5bbls (1,200 litres) of product suspected to be stolen crude oil”.
Accordingly, he said, the boat and product was towed to a safe location and deactivated.
He also disclosed that from 30 January to 2 February 2024, Naval Flying Unit, PortHarcourt conducted aerial surveillance at Abonnema, Temakiri, Aiya Abissa, Ke, Krakrama Tuma, Samkiri, Ukwa West, Ikwuriator, Imo River and Aba River.
During the surveillance, he said, the team sighted various IRS and wooden boats laden with unspecified quantity of illegally refined AGO in numerous numbers suspected to have been siphoned from a nearby wellhead, concluding that “the incident was reported to relevant Units for appropriate action”.
