1. Nigeria’s maritime domain is a vast sea area with an Exclusive Economic Zone of 84,000 sq nm and about 147,000 sq nm of extended continental shelf, which is about one-third of Nigeria’s land size. This domain is a hub of shipping activities and has huge proven oil reserves and numerous oil and gas installations. Therefore, there is need to protect our maritime space in order to ensure the economic prosperity of our Nation.
2. In line with its statutory roles as encapsulated in the 1999 Constitution of the FRN, the Nigerian Navy has continued to respond to current and emerging security threats in the maritime domain. This is to enhance maritime security and create the desired environment for economic prosperity and national development. In this regard, the Nigerian Navy conducts anti-oil theft, anti-piracy, anti-smuggling and anti-Illegal fishing operations amongst other functions. Anti-oil theft operations remains the Navy’s most critical function due to the contribution of oil revenue to Nigeria’s economic survival. However, some unpatriotic elements are determined to plunder the country’s oil resources for personal gains through oil theft and other acts of economic sabotage.
3. Over the years, the Nigerian Navy emplaced measures to address the scourge of oil theft. These include intelligence-led patrols, robust Maritime Domain Awareness and the Choke Point Management and Control regime involving the deployment of Naval Security Stations at strategic chokepoints within the creeks to deny oil thieves freedom of action. In the past 4 years, the Nigerian Navy has confiscated over 8.1 million barrels of stolen crude oil, 86,500 MT of illegally refined AGO, 788,312 litres of illegally sourced PMS and about 21 million litres of Kerosene. Other arrests include 120 barges, 181 speed boats, 1,453 wooden boats laden with stolen products as well as 118 vehicles conveying stolen petroleum products. During the period, the Nigerian Navy deactivated over 1,528 illegal refining sites and 8,790 storage tanks, and arrested 392 suspected oil thieves. The suspects were handed over to relevant law enforcement agencies for further investigation and prosecution. Of particular note were the arrests of MT SWEET MIRI and MT VILLANIRIS 1 both laden with a combined quantity of 4 million litres of stolen crude oil. Mindful of the possibility of certain bad eggs within, the Nigerian Navy has strict disciplinary systems to deal with such personnel in line with the Armed Forces Act. In the course of our operations, some gallant personnel have paid the supreme prize while fighting oil theft. We salute their sacrifice and pray for the families they left behind.
4. In view of its transnational nature, the fight against oil theft, also involves collaboration with our neighbours such as Cameroon, Benin and Togo who assisted in the apprehension of vessels such as MT NEW ANGEL and MT JASMINE involved in crude oil theft. In November 2024, as part of its regional efforts to enhance maritime security, the Nigerian Navy hosted Exercises CROCODILE LIFT and GRAND AFRICAN NEMO which are multinational exercise involving Nigerian Navy Ships, boats and aircrafts as well as ships from regional navies and partners such as France, UK and Spain. The exercises were geared toward enhancing our international partnership and collaboration to curb maritime crimes in the Gulf of Guinea.
5. The Nigerian Navy also has a transparent process of working with industry regulators such as NUPRC, NMDPRA, NIMASA and NNPCL in the monitoring and enforcement of approvals granted to operators to lift crude oil and other refined products. This enables the Nigerian Navy to ensure compliance for legitimate upstream and downstream operations on behalf of the regulators. Nigerian Navy efforts have greatly curbed oil theft and led to a significant increase in Nigeria’s daily crude oil production output from 1.23 million barrels in October 2022 to 1.8 million barrels in October 2024 as revealed by the NUPRC. The positive outcome of the Nigerian Navy’s anti-crude oil operations is also evident in the Trans – Forcados and Trans – Niger pipelines which have continued to report about 100 per cent terminal factor in the past few months. Furthermore, recall that in 2022, the Nigerian Navy succeeded in eradicating piracy in Nigerian waters, and Nigeria was de-listed from the International Maritime Bureau List of piracy prone countries.
6. Despite these sterling performances, there have been misrepresentations in certain quarters aimed at tarnishing the image of the Nigerian Navy. These misrepresentations are peddled by mischief makers whose freedom of action in oil theft were severely degraded by the Nigerian Navy. Despite disruptions by these unpatriotic elements, the Nigerian Navy has remained critical in the success of several strategic initiatives such as the Presidential Crude Oil Barging Regime. For instance, an alarm of crude oil theft on MT PRAISEL in August 2023 at Escravos in which the Navy was alleged to have been involved was proven to be false. Similarly, on 3 May 2024, another false allegation led to the disruption of the operations of MT PRESTIGIOUS and MT MONTAGU involved in the Presidential Crude Oil Barging Operations at Bonny. These disruptions resulted in the loss of over 1.2 million barrels of crude oil with attendant reduction in revenues during the period of their arrest between 4 – 16 May 2024. Also, on 7 Nov 24 based on credible intelligence, a barge suspected to be involved in oil theft was arrested in Warri by Nigerian Navy personnel. Also, on 10 Nov 24, MT LADY MARTINA conveying HPFO to MT JASMINE S involved in Presidential Crude Oil Barging Operations at Bonny was alleged to have stolen crude oil. The Nigerian Navy conducted series of test which confirmed the product onboard to be HPFO as approved by regulatory authorities. These false accusations were not backed by evidences, but primarily designed to tarnish the image of the Nigerian Navy and dampen the morale of personnel involved in anti-oil theft operations. In addition, the perpetrators of these false alarms inflict unwarranted disruptions in legitimate business in the oil industry. This is detrimental to the ease of doing business in Nigeria oil sector and negates Mr Presidents desire to increase investment in the oil industry.
7. The Nigerian Navy will continue to remain focused in carrying out our functions as a highly professional and dedicated force in line with our statutory roles. In doing so, the Navy will continue to work with Sister Services, partners and credible stakeholders in line with the whole-of-society approach in protecting our nation’s resources for economic prosperity and national development.
8. Permit me to also use this opportunity to inform you that the Nigerian Navy is scheduled to host the 2024 Symposium of the Heads of Navies of Gulf of Guinea countries in partnership with the European Union and the French Navy. The event is scheduled for 26 – 28 November 2024 at the Transcorp Hilton Abuja, with the theme “Maritime Security and Sustainable Development in the Gulf of Guinea”. The aim is to promote maritime security in the region and strengthen cooperation for effective maritime law enforcement. The Symposium will also provide a platform for practitioners to coalesce ideas on maritime security while deepening the implementation of the Yaoundé Code of Conduct. The event will feature Strategic Sessions on Regional and International Cooperation for Maritime Security, Maritime Domain Awareness and Information Sharing as well as Legal and Regulatory Framework for Maritime Security Operations. Heads of Navies of Gulf of Guinea countries and representatives of regional and International organisations will participate in the 3-day event.
9. I believe most of you have been invited for the Symposium as it is another milestone towards ensuring that the Gulf of Guinea is conducive for legitimate maritime business.
10. Thank you all for listening and as we say in the Navy, Fair Winds and Onward Together!!
The above is the full text of a Press Statement by Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla and presented by Chief of Training and Operations (CTOPS) Navy, Rear Admiral Olusegun Ferreira, at a Press Conference in Abuja on November 25, 2024