The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, attributed the widespread hydrocarbon theft in the Niger Delta to the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, communal clashes, poverty, and unemployment. Speaking at the Maritime Stakeholders Meeting in Abuja, Vice Admiral Ogalla admitted that traditional methods of combating oil theft and other maritime security threats have not been effective.
Vice Admiral Ogalla emphasized the need for enhanced collaboration among stakeholders to address security challenges and develop the maritime sector. He highlighted that the meeting aimed to tackle issues arising from the Petroleum Industry Act, contemporary maritime security trends, and other law enforcement issues related to maritime and energy security.
“The federal government’s drive to develop the nation’s blue economy requires the support of all stakeholders represented here today,” Ogalla stated, noting President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to improving the ease of doing business in the maritime and oil sectors to eradicate poverty in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
In a related development, Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State mandated the chairmen of the state’s eight local government councils to form task forces to combat oil theft. This decision followed a meeting between governors of oil-producing states and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, in Abuja.
Governor Diri underscored the impact of crude oil bunkering and theft on state revenues and the ecosystem, urging local government leaders to collaborate with the Bayelsa State Community Safety Corps to address the issue. He stressed the importance of a coordinated effort to stop oil theft, which would help increase oil production and revenue for states and local governments.
Vice Admiral Ogalla highlighted the Nigerian Navy’s ongoing efforts to secure the maritime domain through surveillance, response capabilities, and law enforcement. He mentioned the establishment of OP DELTA SANITY in January 2024, which has led to the arrest of over 35 ships involved in oil theft, with those arrested handed over to prosecuting agencies.
“Other measures have also been put in place to curb pipeline vandalism and illegal refining sites,” Ogalla added. He reassured stakeholders of the Navy’s commitment to fulfilling its statutory roles to ensure a secure maritime environment conducive to economic prosperity.
Ogalla identified major security threats in the maritime domain, including violent agitations, oil theft, pipeline vandalism, piracy, and sea robbery. He expressed optimism that the stakeholders’ deliberations would yield tangible outcomes to enhance maritime security.
Governor Diri also addressed the upcoming August 1 nationwide protest, directing local government chairmen to maintain peace across communities. He instructed them to cooperate with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) by providing necessary accommodations to facilitate the agency’s operations in their areas.
The coordinated efforts between the Nigerian Navy and local government authorities aim to tackle the persistent issues of oil theft and maritime security, fostering a more secure and economically prosperous environment in the Niger Delta and beyond
