Navy launches new operation to combat oil theft, maritime crimes

The Nigerian Navy has flagged off Operation Delta Sanity II, an extension of a special maritime security operation, aimed at curbing oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and other criminalities in the Niger Delta region.

The second phase of the operation, launched on December 30, 2024, was flagged off by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri.

The ceremony, held on board the Nigerian Naval Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, marked the continuation of the operation, which was initially activated on January 10, 2024.

Lokpobiri commended the Navy for the exceptional leadership provided by the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) and the successes recorded in the last one year.

He expressed satisfaction with the progress made by the Nigerian Navy in combating crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.

The Minister also expressed his excitement about the launch of Operation Delta Sanity 1, which took place in Delta State, and the extension of the operation to other areas, tasking the Navy to curtail the sabotage on the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP).

He said: “When I became minister, we were doing barely a million barrels per day, but today we are doing 1.8 million barrels per day and our target is to do at least three million barrels by this same time in 2025.

“I am particularly happy about this one because this is where we have the most fundamental problem.

“This Trans-Niger Pipeline is where we have most of the illegal infractions that we have as far as crude oil theft, Pipeline vandalism is concerned.”

Lokpobiri emphasised the importance of collaboration among security agencies, traditional rulers, youth groups, and other stakeholders to support the Nigerian Navy and Armed Forces in achieving their objectives.

Speaking, Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, said the operation is designed to ensure a secure maritime domain for increased economic activities, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s agenda for national economic prosperity and poverty eradication.

He noted that since the launch of Operation Delta Sanity in January 2024, the Nigerian Navy has recorded significant successes, including the arrest of numerous vessels and suspects involved in oil theft, as well as the identification and deactivation of several illegal refining sites.

Ogalla added that the successes have led to improvements in legitimate activities in the maritime environment and increased Nigeria’s daily crude oil production.

Despite these positive results, Ogalla said the Navy deemed it fit to rejig Operation Delta Sanity by improving the deployment of Maritime Domain Awareness infrastructure, increasing aerial surveillance, and enhancing intelligence gathering.

He assured that the operation would also incorporate non-kinetic measures to consolidate previous successes and ensure improved collaboration with stakeholders.

The CNS, however, charged all participating commands, units, and establishments to strive towards realising the operational objectives of Operation Delta Sanity II.

He expressed optimism that Nigeria’s oil production target of two million barrels per day is achievable by next year.

Meanwhile, the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Saheed Adeshina Akinwande highlighted the operation’s remarkable achievements over the past 12 months.

He noted that the operation has leveraged cutting-edge technology, intelligence inputs, and kinetic operations to checkmate the menace of crude oil theft.

He added that collaboration with other maritime stakeholders and security agencies has also been instrumental in the operation’s success.

According to Rear Admiral Akiwande, the operation has yielded significant results, including the arrest of 215 suspects, the deactivation of 468 illegal refinery sites, and the seizure of 6.5 million litres of stolen crude oil and 7 million litres of illegally refined AGO.

Akiwande expressed optimism that the operation would meet and surpass the 2 million barrels per day production target set by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.