Nigerian Navy arrested 35 ships, 65 suspects, deactivated over 827 illegal refining sites 

Stanley Ihedigbo

Nigerian Navy has arrested over 35 ships, 65 suspects and deactivation of over 827 Illegal refining sites through its  “Operation Delta Sanity” which was launched in January 2024 to eliminate Crude Oil Theft.

Speaking at the 2024 Distinguished Annual Public lecture at the University of Nigeria Nsukka, as guest speaker, Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, disclosed that the operation has denied oil thieves huge amount of crude oil and refined products worth billions of naira.

In his  lecture titled, “Safeguarding Nigeria’s blue economy potential: The role of the Nigerian Navy”, the CNS highlighted the huge potentials of Nigeria’s Blue Economy encapsulated in the resources within the nation’s maritime domain.

“These resources include oil and gas assets valued at over 40bn USD with the potentials to increase to about 120bn USD. Additionally, it is estimated that Nigeria’s Maritime Domain holds an estimated 36 billion barrels of oil and 182 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves,” he explained.

According to the CNS these resources need to be effectively protected and efficiently harnessed to bolster Nigeria’s economy hence the NN employs several strategies which are yielding the desired effects.

“These strategies include; the Total Spectrum Maritime Strategy (TSMS), NN Trinity of Action comprising Surveillance, Response Capability and Law Enforcement”, he said.

The CNS concluded by highlighting some challenges facing the NN particularly the non-diligent prosecution of maritime crimes and he advocated for the establishment of Special Maritime Courts.

The lecture was well received by the University community and CNS answered many questions from the students of the institution.

For Vice Admiral Ogalla, the opportunity to deliver this lecture was nostalgic as he recalled that in 1987, he was at the crossroads of choosing between accepting the admission to study medicine at UNN or proceeding to the Nigerian Defence Academy.

In retrospect, the hands of Providence ensured that his choice brought him back to Nsukka.

The university Vice Chancellor, Professor Polycarp Chigbu and other erudite professors in the top hierarchy of the prestigious institution commended the CNS.