IN a major crackdown, the Nigerian Navy has confirmed the arrest of 21 suspected crude oil thieves and seizure of two vessels along the waterway and creeks of Agbami Oil Field and Obi creeks in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
Meanwhile, the new Commander of the Joint Task Force, (JTF) Maj.-Gen. Illyasu Abbah, yesterday unveiled the new policy direction of the security task force code named Operation Pulo Shield, warning officers against noticeable loopholes in the fight against crude oil theft.
The two intercepted vessels were laden with 2.111 million litres of crude oil valued over N2.4 billion.
The vessels were intercepted at separate points along the Ebi creeks and Agbami Oil Field between December 26, 2013 and January 14, 2014.
According to the statement by the Flag Officer Commanding the Central Naval Command of the Navy, Rear Admiral Sidi-Ali Hassan Usman, the arrested oil thieves are Nigerians who lack necessary permits for the lifting of crude oil.
According to the navy, the documents tendered were not the required ones, “they were unable to tender relevant documents such as Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) bunkering permit and the NNPC nomination for crude oil lifting. And they lack the certificate of registration with the Joint Military Task Force and did not have the Naval Headquarters approval for the movement of petroleum products within the command area of responsibility.”
The navy also vowed to sustain the tempo of waterways and creek surveillance in the Niger Delta, adding, “it underscores the determination of the Nigerian Navy and the Central Naval Command in particular, to completely eradicate oil theft, illegal bunkering and other illegality in the Nigeria waters.”
Abbah said though the JTF is committed to the fight against illegal oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism and operation of illegal oil refineries in the Niger Delta region, the noticeable loopholes in the war against the illicit trade is affecting the nation’s economy.
Abbah while speaking in Yenagoa during the official hand over ceremony by the JTF former Commander, Maj.-Gen. Bata Debiro, said preliminary report showed that the loopholes in the fight against oil theft must be blocked and lot of works has to be done in the command to wipe out criminals in the region.
Abbah said: “I’m just from another volatile spot, though, I have being fighting different wars, that is the insurgents in Northern Nigeria. We are here to ensure that we curb the illegal oil refineries, theft and pipeline vandalism. There are still lots of works to be done, there are still some loopholes that need to be blocked. I ‘m just coming from a different terrain”.
Earlier in his valedictory speech, Debiro commended the JTF personnel for their credible performance in 2013 and the war against oil theft.
According to Debiro, “criminals come to steal our oil in connivance with some bad Nigerians and those oil are not accounted for. You have no other duty than to fight the vandals and never you connive with the oil thieves, pipeline vandals in the Niger Delta”.
No comments:
Post a Comment