By Linus Aleke
The Nigerian Navy (NN), said that its anti-illegal refineries in the creeks of the Niger Delta have yielded tremendous results as troops of operation Dakatar Barawo have uncovered and successfully deactivated 172 illegal refineries in the past seven (7), weeks, and arrested 45 suspects in the ongoing operations to tame the activities of economic saboteurs.
Also, 745 metal storage tanks, 567 ovens, 263 pits, 50 wooden boats and 14 speedboats were also destroyed during the operation.
The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo made this disclosure in Abuja, while, briefing Defence correspondents on the activities lined up for the Nigerian Navy 66th anniversary celebration.
He also revealed that the Nigerian Navy Patrol Teams denied oil thieves about 11,781,937 litres of illegally refined AGO, 20,378,414 barrels of crude oil and 367, 715 litres of DPK.
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Others, he said are 232,000 litres of PMS, 830,000 litres of Sludge and 66,000 litres of LPFO.
Vice Admiral Gambo added that these products are worth over N15 billion.
Represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans (Navy), Rear Admiral Saidu Garba, the CNS said the activities of pirates and sea robbers in the Nigerian maritime domain and by extension the Gulf of Guinea has been on a progressive decline.
He also revealed that Nigeria has exited the International Maritime Bureau’s (IMB), Piracy List, according to the current report of 3 March 2022.
He added that Nigerian Navy’s coordinated operations, International Martine Exercises and deployment of modern technology in curtailing crime and criminalities in Nigerian waters has continued to deny pirates, sea robbers and economic saboteurs freedom of action.
Vice Admiral Gambo said the service has achieved significant milestones in ensuring improved maritime security for the nation’s economic prosperity in it’s over 6 decades of existence
The CNS further disclosed that its successes against pirate activities, had resulted in improved shipping into Nigeria’s waters with attendant positive impact on the nation’s economy.
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“This noble achievement was complemented by the International Maritime Bureau Global Piracy Report of 14 July 2021, which indicated the lowest number of piracy and sea robbery against ships in our waters in 27 years. The report was corroborated by the Defence Web, which noted further decline in reported cases of piracy and armed attacks against shipping in Nigerian waters. I am pleased to notify that the latest International Maritime Bureau report of 3 March 2022 shows that Nigeria has exited the IMB’s Piracy List. This means that Nigeria is no longer in the list of piracy prone countries,” he said.
He noted that the consequences of such achievements are enormous and positive for the shipping industry, general maritime commerce, and the national economy.
He concluded that the service through the support of federal government has also made giant strides in the areas of fleet recapitalization.
