Nigerian Navy declares war against crude oil theft, seizes vessel
By Matthew Atungwu
The Nigerian Navy has vowed to combat both instability and the theft of crude oil from Nigerian waterways.
The declaration came after a three-day amphibious special drill known as “Exercise Sea Guardian,” which was designed to combat marine crime in the nation.
The joint maritime exercise involving ten Nigerian Navy vessels, two helicopters, and a Special Boat Services detachment, which was coordinated by the Central and Eastern Naval Commands around the Agbara Oil Field, came to a close over the weekend.
Rear Admiral Umar Chugali, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) of the Central Naval Command (CNC), and Rear Admiral Olusola Oluwagbire, the ENC’s counterpart, spoke to reporters shortly after the exercise, stating that it will promote cooperation between the two Commands in order to combat insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea and the Nigerian maritime domain.
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The FOCs described the exercise, which included anti-crude oil theft operation, vessel seizure, gunnex, communications, fleet manoeuvres, man overboard, and emergency drills such as; firefighting, steering gear breakdown, machinery failure, abandon ship and man and cheer ship, as a huge success and hitch-free.
They noted that the exercise was not only aimed at providing safety and security in Nigeria’s maritime environment but it was also targeted to ensure socio-economic activities thrive in the country.
Also, Operations Officer, Central Naval Command, Commodore Haruna Zego told newsmen onboard the NNS Sagbama, that “this exercise will also walk our men from the two commands for the event, and also ensure that illicit activities are curbed within the maritime domain.
“The Nigerian Navy is doing its best to stamp out criminality within the maritime domain and also salvage the nation’s economy by eradicating crude oil theft among other crimes within the maritime space.”
Commander Stephen Ebute, the commanding officer of the Nigerian Navy Ship Sagbama, stated that the exercise Sea Guardian has a significant impact and has prepared the officers of the two commands for the future challenge of combating maritime crime.
