The Nation Newspaper

Tag: CNC

  • Navy destroys 87,000tons of illegally refined crude oil

    Navy destroys 87,000tons of illegally refined crude oil

    The Central Naval Command (CNC) of the Nigerian Navy has destroyed 87,000 metric tons of illegally-refined crude oil in the Niger Delta region.

    CNC with headquarters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, said the raids and patrols that led to the destruction were conducted between May and September.

    The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), CNC, Rear Admiral Abubakar Alhassan, said 400 illegal refineries and 85 boats used to convey the stolen petroleum products were also set ablaze within the period.

    Alhassan said the feat was achieved following the Operation Rivers Sweep the command launched in January 2017.

    “So far, the operation has recorded a huge success in reducing Crude Oil Theft (COT), pipeline vandalism and other maritime crimes which hitherto had contributed to insecurity of lives and property as well as disruption of economic activities in the maritime environment.

    “Between May and September this year, the command seized and destroyed a total of about 87,000MT of illegally refined crude oil. Also, over 400 illegal refineries were destroyed including 85boats used by oil thieves and illegal bunkerers”, he said.

    To consolidate on the achievements, Alhassan said the command had concluded plans to launch another military exercise called, Octopus grip.

    He said the sea exercise would last for three days beginning from October 30 to November 1st adding that it was designed to tackle maritime crimes associated with the ember months.

    He named Commodore Habib Usman as the Officer in Tactical Command (OTC) for the exercise and the officer in charge of the operation as Rear Admiral Frederick Ogu.

    He said one of the objectives of the exercise are to assess the operational readiness of CNC fleet and bases as well as test practical skills of personnel in tackling maritime threats.

    Other are to determine the capability of the operational bases in the conduct of riverine operations and provide an enabling environment for sustenance of economic activities including oil and gas production, safety of shipping and other activities at sea.

    He said: “The central Naval Command (CNC) is tasked with the responsibility of securing the waterways as well as providing adequate security for the National assets domiciled within the Command’s Area of Responsibility.

    “In order to fulfill these mandates amongst others, the Command in Jan 2017 launched ‘Operation Rivers Sweep’.

    “In order to consolidate on the gains of Operation Rivers Sweep, the CNC is scheduled to commence a riverine and sea exercise code named ‘Octopusgrip’.

    “The sea exercise is expected to last for three days beginning from Monday 30th October-01 November 2017. Furthermore, the riverine OPS will nip in the bud other maritime crimes associated with “EMBER” months.”

  • Navy takes free medical mission to late Alamieyeseigha’s community

    Navy takes free medical mission to late Alamieyeseigha’s community

    The Central Naval Command (CNC) of the Nigerian Navy, at the weekend, embarked on free medical mission to Amassoma, the community of late former Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.

    The people of the community led by their Traditional Ruler, His Royal Highness, Amananaowei of Amassoma, Maj. Graham Naigba (retd) participated in the medical mission and were freely treated of various ailments.

    The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), CNC, Rear Admiral Mohammed Garba, who led senior officers of the command to Amassoma, said the medical mission was borne out of the desire to tackle the health needs of the people.

    He said the navy since September 2016 has been going to various communities in its Area of Operation (AoR) to offer free medical treatments to the people.

    Garba said such medical missions, as part of civil-military relations, had enabled the navy to move closer to the people and win their confidence.

    He also added that the mission would form part of his handover not to the new FOC, who was expected to take over from him soon.

    He said the communities visited by the navy appreciated the gesture, which had helped to drastically reduce attacks on oil pipelines.

    According to him the people had shown their appreciation by giving timely information of miscreants’ and vandals’ activities to the navy.

    “Such information has given us the intelligence to be more proactive in handling issues of economic sabotage. Out of their appreciation of what we do for them, they come to is and give us information”, he said.

    On his part, the traditional ruler, Naingba, thanked the navy for their gesture describing it as commendable.

    He appealed to them to do more for his community to enable his people overcome the scourge of diseases.

    He said the community had never witnessed such well-organised and big free medical intervention and assured the navy of his community’s cooperation.

     

  • Navy seizes vessel with N28.8m ‘stolen’ diesel

    Navy seizes vessel with N28.8m ‘stolen’ diesel

    •Seven suspects, boat handed over to NSCDC

    The Central Naval Command (CNC) of the Nigerian Navy intercepted yesterday a locally-made vessel, named MV Mercy, with N28.8 million refined Automated Gas Oil (diesel) said to have been illegally refined.

    It was learnt that the product was in four big tanks linked together with large hoses and carefully loaded in the giant boat.

    The vessel, which was arrested by a naval patrol boat on the Furopa waterways in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, had seven suspected oil thieves on board.

    About 180,000 litres of oil were said to be in the vessel, valued at N160 per litre, the control price of diesel.

    The suspects, vessel and oil were handed over to the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for further investigation and prosecution.

    In a brief handover statement, the Commanding Officer at the Naval Base in Brass, Yenagoa, Capt. Salisu Jubril, warned oil thieves to stay away from the area or face the wrath of the law.

    He restated the command’s commitment to eradicate oil theft, in line with the directive of the Chief of Naval Staff.

    The commanding officer said the Command Officer Commanding (CNC), Rear Admiral Peter Agba, ordered intensive patrol of the waterways to stop illegal oil deals.

    Referring to oil thieves, Jubril said: “We are making a statement to illegal ‘bunkerers’ that wherever you are and thinking of perpetrating such illegal act, you will be caught by the long arms of the law.

    “Oil theft is no more a profitable venture because whatever is invested on it will go down the drains. That’s because we are going to arrest you.

    “We are warning illegal ‘bunkerers’ to stay away from the CNC. We are going to pursue you through each and every creek.”

    The suspects and items were received by the state Commandant of NSCDC, Mr. Desmond Agu, who was represented by Deputy Commandant Godwin Miebi.

    He said the command would carry out further investigation to prosecute the matter.

  • Bayelsa sets up Ebola taskforce as Navy begins sensitisation

    Bayelsa sets up Ebola taskforce as Navy begins sensitisation

    Bayelsa state government at the weekend established a 13-man taskforce to map out strategies of preventing the spread of the Ebola virus.

    The development came shortly after the Central Naval Command (CNC) of the Nigerian Navy began to sensitise its officers and ratings in the state about the deadly Ebola virus and measures that must be taken to prevent its spread.

    The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), CNC, Rear Admiral Peter Agba, at the seminar organised by the CNC in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state capital, harped on personal hygiene.

    Agba said: “We cannot run away from our family members, but what we can help them do is to help bring them to healthcare centres.”

    He advised the officers and ratings to take preventive measures to protect themselves from the virus, insisting that “prevention is better than cure.”

    He further cautioned against reckless consumption of food items since according to him some of the items had been reported to be hosting the virus.

    “For example, eating of monkeys, bush meat, exchange of kisses among loved ones and so many other situations should be done with care,” he said.

    He said the seminar was put together to enlighten officers and ratings of the navy.

    Also, Dr. Esther Boyinbode, in her brief presentation, spoke on the practical ways of preventing the Ebola spread.

    She said the virus was not airborne as being speculated in some quarters but could only be transmitted through body fluids.

    According to him, the incubation period of the virus was between two and 21 days.

    “The general symptoms of this virus is like every other feverish diseases which may include weakness of the joint, constant headache,” she said.

    On the Ebola Task Force, the Bayelsa State Government said it was part of its elaborate preparations to tackle any outbreak of the dreaded virus in the state.

    In a statement after the state executive council meeting in Yenagoa, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ayibatonye Owei, said that, the task force would map out strategies and liaise with other notable local, national and international health institutions to confront any cases of the virus.

    Owei was named the chairman of the task force while Dr. Biribina Samayin was nominated as the secretary.

    Other members of the committee are Dr. Wakiente Ombu, Dr. Douye Aganaba, Dr Taribara Sigah Ekere, Dr Oyeyemi Abisoye and Mrs. Kenisuomein Walson.

    Others are Dr. Israel Jeremiah, Biobelemoye Joy Josiah, Mrs Monica Azazi Olarinde, Dr. Zuobeni Agade and Mrs. Shakirat Azazi.

    The commissioner said the government was arranging training programmes for all health personnel in health institutions across the state.

    He said health workers were mostly at the risk of contracting the virus.

    He said health personnel would be trained in collaboration with the state ministry of health, World Health Organisation (WHO), Federal Ministry of Health and the centre for disease control.

    He stated that, the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yenagoa and the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital had been designated as centres to handle patients in case of an outbreak of the disease in the state.

    Owei said provisions had been made for protective equipment for health personnel while sensitisation programmes to enlighten the public had started on radio, television and newspapers.

    He said designated phone lines had been put in place to enable people call and report suspected cases of Ebola.

    The health commissioner advised members of the public to be very cautious and take their personal hygiene seriously by washing their hands regularly.

     

  • Naval chief reads Riot Act to oil thieves, pirates

    New Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Central Naval Command (CNC), Yenagoa, Bayelsa state, Rear Admiral Peter Agba, yesterday warned oil thieves and pirates in his Area of Responsibility (AoR) to either relocate or face the wrath of the law.

    He said he had developed new strategies of flushing economic saboteurs, who specialised in illegal oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism, piracy and other forms of oil theft, from the creeks of the Niger Delta region.

    Agba, who was the FOC Logistics Command before his new appointment, vowed that his command would neither negotiate with oil thieves nor compromise its mandate.

    He spoke at the Headquarters of the CNC in Yenagoa shortly after taking over the command from his predecessor, Rear Admiral Usman Sidi.

    Describing the mandate as a building block in the Nigeria Navy, the FOC praised the qualities of the outgoing FOC, referring to him as a disciplined and highly respected officer.

    To tackle the menace of oil thieves, he said he would maintain the cordial relationship between the command and its host communities.

    Sidi said he relied on the mandate of the Navy to deal with economic sabotage and piracy in the region.

    He recalled that the command arrested many suspected oil thieves, pirates and impounded suspected vessels.

    He said many of the suspects were handed over to responsible agencies for prosecution.

    He urged the command to be proactive, adding that the Navy would continue to tackle illegalities in the region.

  • Navy nabs 25 oil theft suspects

    Navy nabs 25 oil theft suspects

    •Hand them over to NSCDC

    Central Naval Command (CNC) of the Nigerian Navy has arrested 25 suspects for allegedly stealing petroleum products at various points in the Niger Delta region.

    The suspects were rounded up by the troops of the Forward Operating Base, FORMOSO, Brass Local Government Area, in Bayelsa State.

    They were, however, handed over to the State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mr. Desmond Agu, for prosecution.

    In a brief ceremony to hand over the suspects to NSCDC yesterday, the Flag Officer, Commanding, CNC, Rear Admiral Sidi-Ali Usman said 12 of the suspects were arrested onboard a vessel christened, MT Eil Tank 123.

    Usman, who was represented in the event by Commodore Vincent Okeke, said the suspect included a cadet of the Nigerian Maritime Academy, Oron, who was on internship but had been released.

    He explained that the suspected vessel was arrested offshore Agbami oil field by the Nigerian Navy Ship ZARIA.

    He added that the ship was laden with 1, 241,000 litres of stolen crude oil without “necessary clearance or permit for movement of petroleum products particularly crude oil.”

    Usman said five of the suspects were apprehended onboard a large dug-out wooden boat offshore Brass River.

    “At the time of the arrest, the boat was loaded with about 60,000 litres of product suspected to be crude oil. She neither had documents to show proof of purchase nor permit from relevant regulatory agencies for crude oil lifting,” he said.

    He added that nine suspects were nabbed onboard another vessel which was loaded with 870,000 litres of crude oil.

    He said: “This handing over re-emphasises the determination of the Chief of the Naval Staff to completely eradicate crude oil theft from the nation’s maritime domain.”

     

  • Navy seizes vessels with N2.4b crude oil

    Navy seizes vessels with N2.4b crude oil

    The Central Naval Command (CNC) of the Nigerian Navy in Bayelsa State has impounded two vessels for allegedly carrying 2.111 million litres of suspected stolen crude oil.

    The value of the “stolen” oil was estimated at N2.4 billion.

    Twenty-one suspects were said to have been arrested during the interception of the vessels.

    It was learnt that both vessels were intercepted in the waterways of Agbami Oil Field and Obi Creeks in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

    The CNC confirmed the interception and arrest yesterday in a statement by the Flag Officer Commanding, CNC, Rear Admiral Hassan Usman.

    The statement said the vessels were intercepted at separate points.

    Usman explained that one of the vessels, MT Eli Tank, could not produce the necessary permit for lifting the crude oil.

    The Flag Officer said the suspected oil thieves are Nigerians.

    He said: “They (suspects) were unable to tender relevant documents, such as Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) bunkering permit and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) nomination for crude oil lifting.

    “And they lack the certificate of registration with the Joint Military Task (JTF) and did not have the approval for the movement of petroleum products within the command area of responsibility.”

    The Flag Officer vowed to sustain the surveillance of the waterways and creeks in the Niger Delta region.

    Usman added: “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 on Nigeria’s waters.”