By Desmond Ejibas
Port Harcourt – The Nigeria Navy has extended its ongoing special military exercise in the Niger Delta, Operation Delta Sanity (ODS), by an additional three months.
Vice Adm. Emmanual Ogalla, the Chief of Naval Staff, told journalists at NNS Pathfinder in Port Harcourt on Thursday that the extension was prompted by the significant achievements made during the operation.
He stressed that the special military intervention, initiated on Jan. 6 to combat the escalating crude oil theft and other maritime crimes in the Niger Delta, had been successful.
According to him, President Bola Tinubu had tasked the navy to eliminate oil theft and ramp up Nigeria’s oil production to optimal production level, leading to the conception of ODS.
“This resulted in the deployment of personnel, naval platforms, helicopters, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) for aggressive surveillance and interdiction operations across the Niger Delta.
“Naval commands, units and bases were directed to conduct both kinetic and non-kinetic operations to stem maritime criminal activities.
“Initially planned for 90 days (three months), the ODS has now been extended by another 90 days due to its achievements,” he announced.
Ogalla explained that the decision to extend the operation was influenced by the significant successes, including the arrests of oil thieves, seizures of illicit vessels, and destruction of illegal refineries.
“The operation has disrupted the activities of oil thieves and pipeline vandals across the Niger Delta, denying them the freedom of action they once had in the nation’s maritime domain.
“During the past three months, troops recovered substantial quantities of stolen crude oil and other petroleum products, dismantled numerous illegal refining sites, and arrested several suspects.
“Additionally, troops seized 95 wooden boats, fibre boats, vehicles, and deactivated over 119 storage tanks and dug-out pits within the illegal refineries.
“To this end, the Shell Petrol Development Company (SPDC), NNPCL and other oil and gas operators have recently reported an increase in their terminal factor,” he added.
The navy chief said that 74 suspected oil thieves, pipeline vandals, sea robbers, and others were apprehended by naval forces during the period.
He said that naval forces also intercepted more than 14 large motor tanker vessels that entered the country without proper authorisation.
Ogalla named some of the vessels to include MT kali, MT Harbour Spirit, MT Syfnil, MT Okito, MT Velanirious and MT Sweet Mary.
“One of the vessels, MT Sweet Mary was arrested 174 nautical miles off Nigeria’s coast, showcasing the Nigeria Navy’s capacity to police the backwaters and coastal zones.
“MT Sweet Mary was given a hot pursuit after attempting to evade arrest, demonstrating our resolve to pursuing errant vessels into the open sea and beyond our maritime domain,” he said.
The navy officer said the destruction of numerous illegal refining sites scattered across the Niger Delta has notably improved the air quality in the region.
Ogalla mentioned that some naval personnel involved in the operation lost their lives in the line of duty.
President Tinubu, Ogalla said, had pledged support to the military, leading to ongoing collaborative efforts to completely eradicate crude oil theft from the country. (NAN)
