Navy Foils overN29.5 Oil Theft in two Years as CNS Outline his 2 Years Operational Successes
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla has released a document detailing the operational achievements of the Nigerian Navy (NN), under his watch, from June 2023 to June 2025.
He said that the NN has since his assumption of office in June 2023, remained resolute in her efforts to guarantee freedom of the seas by responding current and emerging security threats.
According to him, this has led to several operational successes, resulting in improved protection of Nigeria’s Maritime interests towards enhanced economic prosperity and national development
Furthermore, he said that the NN’s operational responses in the last 2 years have been in the form of anti-piracy and sea robbery operations, anti-oil theft operations and anti-smuggling operations, joint operations.
Others include assets recapitalization, establishment of new bases, hydrographic operations, regional/international cooperation, and regional/ international cooperation.
Anti-Piracy and Anti-Sea Robbery Operations. The NN has maintained credible presence at sea, resulting in significant reduction in sea robbery incidents while ensuring that no piracy incident occurred in Nigeria’s waters since 3 Mar 22, after the country’s exit from the list of piracy – prone countries.
Anti-Oil Theft Operations.
The NN has been in the forefront of operations to curb oil theft through Op DELTA SANITY, initially launched in Jan 24, and rejigged on 30 Dec 24, with the integration of aerial surveillance and improved intelligence to achieve better results.
This has led to the arrest of 76 vessels and 242 suspects, while over 808 illegal refining sites with 2,411 dug out pits and 5,421
storage facilities were deactivated.
Additionally, 58 arms, 276 ammunition, 101 speedboats, 59 pumping machines, 38 outboard engines, one welding machine, 8 generator sets, 6 wheelbarrows and several hoses were seized from criminal elements.
Furthermore, oil thieves were denied about 27,255,505.00 litres (171,418.27 bbls) of crude oil, 4,017,262.00 litres of illegally-refined AGO, 117,525 litres of
DPK and 369,155.00 litres of PMS.
At current market rates, this amounts to
about N29.5 Billion denied oil thieves since the commencement of the operation.
The effectiveness of our operations has been measured by data and statistics such as high percentages of terminal factors recorded along the Trans-Niger, Trans Escravos and Trans Forcados pipelines by as much as 98 – 100 per cent since the third quarter
of 2024.
Also, recent data from NUPRC indicate that crude oil theft has reduced to about 5,000 bpd.
More so, sequel to Presidential directives, the NN on 13 Jan 25, commenced fiscalisation duties in the nation’s 5 major crude oil export terminals namely Bonny, Brass, Escravos, Forcados and Qua Iboe terminal, while efforts are ongoing to extend same to the other terminals.
The objective is to verify and authenticate quantities of crude oil loaded by nominated tankers thereby, drastically reducing the incidence of oil theft at the terminals.
Anti-Smuggling Operations.
The NN anti-smuggling operations has recorded significant achievements. Specifically, petroleum products and 4,610 bags of foreign parboiled rice as well as 1,467 bags of Cannabis Sativa and other psychoactive substances smuggled in wooden boats worth over N5 Billion, were intercepted in the last 2 years.
I must state that curbing smuggling within the nation’s maritime domain remains crucial to NN’s drive for maritime security.
Joint Operations.
The NN currently has over 1,800 personnel including SBS and Special Forces detachments deployed in the 9 ongoing DHQ-Led IS as well as counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations in the 6 geo-political zones of the country.
These include OPHK, OPFY, OPDS, OPSH and OPWS amongst others. Also, maritime components of these operations were supported with necessary logistics, and contributed significantly to the operational successes recorded in the
last 2 years.
Of particular note, was the contribution of the NN component in Op FLOOD SANITY in the wake of the devastating floods in Maiduguri and Op LAKE SANITY in Darak Cameroon in 2024.
In addition, the NN operationalized the Naval Out Post at Shagunu in Apr 25, to check the influx of bandits and arms smuggling along the River Niger axis of Niger and Kebbi States.
Assets Recapitalisation. In recognition of the need to continually boost the NN’s operational capacity towards enhancing effectiveness in the accomplishment of its mandate, the NN has in the last 2 years acquired several maritime assets. These include several patrol boats as well as the 3 ships, NNS IKOGOSI, NNS FARO, NNS SHERE and 3 x AW 139 Trekker helicopters recently commissioned on 31 May 25 by the HMSOD, Dr Bello Matawale during the NN 69th Anniversary
Celebration.
It is gratifying to state that the NN has also reached an advanced stage in the construction of Seaward Defence Boats IV and V at NDL, which are expected to be completed soon,” he said.
Establishment of New Bases.
The everchanging and challenging operational environment coupled with the need for expanded operations, necessitated the establishment of new bases to effectively address contemporary threats.
It is in this regard that the NN recently established NNS MADUEKE in May 24 to effectively support efforts in dealing with security challenges in the South East axis of Nigeria.
Also, the NN Marines (NNM) was established to bridge existing gaps as well as provide a robust, rapid – response to bolster NN’s internal security conflict operations.
Likewise, a Special Ops Comd was established in Apr 25, to administer the NNM, NNSBS, SF personnel and Naval EOD specialists to enable more appropriate coordination and prosecution of land-centric operations.
Hydrographic Operations.
During the period in focus, the NN’s state-of-the-art hydrographic ships carried out systematic survey of Nigeria’s waters, which culminated into the production of updated navigational charts and publications.
Also, since 21 December 2024, the Nigerian Navy’s Hydrographic Department has been engaged in the hydrographic survey of the Bakassi Deep Sea Port area amongst other surveys in strategic locations within Nigeria’s maritime environment.
The survey operation is being conducted by NNS OCHUZO in support of the Cross River State Government ‘s plan to construct a 20 m deep seaport at Bakassi to boost shipping activities in the Eastern flank of the Country.
Regional/International Cooperation. The NN is involved in regional and other maritime security collaborative engagements under the auspices of the 2013 Yaoundé Code of Conduct, which prioritizes cooperation and information sharing between navies of the ECOWAS and the ECCAS.
We also collaborate with the other international organizations to address transnational crimes in Gulf of Guinea.
It is in this regard that several warships visited Nigeria for joint patrols and PASSEX.
They include Navies of countries such as US, UK, India, Brazil and Spain amongst others including Gulf of Guinea countries.
These multinational synergies are necessary to enhance maritime security for safeguarding our maritime economic potentials. They also provide avenues for enhancing the professional development of NN personnel in the conduct of maritime security operations.
Similarly, the FGN recently signed an MoU with the AU for Strategic Sealift across the African Maritime Domain which would be conducted by the NN whenever missions are requested.
Additionally, efforts are ongoing to operationalize the Combined Maritime Task Force also under the auspices of the AU to enhance maritime security within the Gulf of Guinea.
FUTURE INITIATIVES
On future initiatives, the Naval Chief noted that the NN’s future initiatives include acquisition of combat helicopters and strategic military drones to bolster our Air Arm as well as acquisition of Frigates, Offshore Patrol Vessels, Fast Patrol Boats, Tugboats and Patrol Crafts, for improved operational efficiency.
Notably, the Navy is set to take delivery of two 76-meter High Endurance Offshore Patrol Vessels from Dearsan Shipyard in Turkey, which would augment long-range patrols within the region and beyond.
Equally, we plan to
deploy 20 additional houseboats to enhance the Choke Point security architecture for monitoring the internal waterways in the Niger Delta Region.
These acquisitions will significantly enhance the NN’s capacity to conduct extensive maritime security operations.
CONCLUSION
The operational activities of the NN have been intensified since I assumed Command, leading to the denial of criminal elements of the use of over N 34.5 Billion of worth of crude oil, petroleum products and smuggled rice amongst other items.
Nonetheless, the NN is poised to increase these achievements with the new asset acquisitions and newly established bases amongst other initiatives.
