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Tag: Navy

  • Navy arrests 10 suspected pirates

    •Assault rifles recovered

    Operatives of the Nigerian Navy (NN) and their United States (US) counterparts have arrested 10 suspected pirates within the Nigerian end of the Gulf of Guinea (GoG).

    The suspects, comprising three Greece, two Americans and five blacks, were arrested onboard a logistic boat allegedly belonging to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) on Sunday evening, by the crew that was on-board Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) CENTENARY for a joint operation codenamed ‘Junction Rain’.

    Among the foreigners were Angelopolous Spyridon, 54, (Greece), Kappis Christos, 57, (Greece), Petropoulos Stylianos, 34, (Greece), Zanski Michael-Anderson, 50, (American) and another unnamed American, whose picture was superimposed on a discharge book bearing the name, signature and details of Michael-Anderson.

    The Nation gathered that naval operatives recovered four military assault rifles (Bernelli MR-1) loaded with magazines, about 1,000 live ammunition in a box and other exhibits hidden in the boat, which had earlier denied having any contraband when it was interrogated through Open Sea Communication.

    Prior to the boarding and arrest of the boat, NNS CENTENARY had communicated it, demanding to know where it was from and its destination. It was gathered that the 10-man crew had given unsatisfactory information to the Navy and was, therefore, compelled to stop for the special forces to board and search her.

    It was gathered that their data was sent to the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), which established that none of the foreigners had visa to Nigeria, but curiously, they had a pass purportedly from the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) that has no jurisdiction on the high seas.

    “There is nothing in their passport to show entry into Nigeria. Their passport has South African, Europe, Liberia and US entry and exits. It is obvious they entered our country illegally.

    “From the guns they were found with and the various lies they told, it is clear these are pirates. The blacks among them did not have passport and claimed to be Nigerians. NIS will investigate to ascertain where they are from. It is very likely they are not Nigerians as they claimed to be and even if they are, being a Nigerian isn’t a guarantee for anyone to commit maritime crime,” said a source.

     

  • Navy arrests vessel for diverting petroleum product

    Commander of the Nigeria Navy Ship (NNS) Victory in Calabar, Commodore Julius Nwagu, has handed over an 8, 000 metric tonne petroleum vessel, MT AYSU with IMO number 9014511, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly diverting petroleum products.

    Also handed over to the anti-graft agency were five suspects, who were arrested with the vessel.

    Nwagu, who addressed reporters on board the vessel along the Calabar Channel Monday said the vessel was to lift sludge from Warri refinery to a company in Port Harcourt, but it did not do so thereby contravening in the approval issued by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the Naval headquarters.

    Nwagu said the vessel also had approval to load low power fuel oil (LFPO) off-shore Bonny and was supposed to discharge to a tank farm in Calabar but on arrival it was discovered after test by the DPR that the product off specification and therefore unacceptable as LPFO.

    The Commander said it was based on these that the Naval Headquarters directed that the Command should hand over the vessel to the EFCC.

    He also disclosed that there was 1, 500 MT of products in the vessel when it was arrested.

    Acting Zonal Head of EFCC, Uyo Zonal Office, Mr Alex Eba, said they would investigate and prosecute offenders appropriately.

    Nwagu, who will be handing over Command of NNS Victory on Wednesday, also said in the past one year they have completed 32 projects under their area of responsibility.

    Speaking at the commissioning of one of the projects, a sick bay at the NNS Victory Headquarters in Calabar, he said all these were achieved has solely from resources sent from the headquarters and also from internally generated revenue and there were no special funds for any of the projects.

    Nwagu said a year ago, he had started off with two operational boats, but would leaving 12 operational boats and four undergoing repairs in the Command.

    Read Also: Navy, others search for answer to piracy

    He said the successes were made possible through the cooperation of military and civilian staff if the command as well as a healthy synergy with sister security agencies.

    The Commander also handed over 190 bags of contraband foreign rice worth over 3 million naira and three suspects to the Nigeria Customs Service at the NNS Victory jetty.

    Flag Officer Commander (FOC) of the Eastern Naval Command (ENC), Rear Admiral David Adeniran, who commissioned the sick bay, lauded NNS Victory for the achievements, expressing delight that such were happening under his watch.

    He said the Navy would always ensure that the welfare of its personnel are adequately taken care of so they will be able to discharge their duties effectively.

  • Navy, others search for answer to piracy

    As maritime crimes assume transnational and frightening dimensions in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG), regional navies and other stakeholders have converged on Lagos to work out how to set aside territorial boundaries for the common good, reports Precious Igbonwelundu.

    This year’s OBANGAME Express was not the first multinational sea exercise in the Gulf of Guinea. It was, in fact, the ninth edition, a brainchild of the United States Naval Forces Africa (US NAVAF) commenced in 2010. But the 2019 edition of the exercise that had 20 African navies and 11 allied nations in attendance was one of many firsts.

    It was indeed, the first time member states agreed to uninterrupted hot pursuit of suspect vessels across territorial space in about 85 mock exercises executed within 12 days. Also, this year’s OBANGAME Express was the first time a fully equipped Regional Maritime Domain Awareness Training School, a counterpart funding initiative between Nigeria and U.S. situated at the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT, was put to use. Participating navies enacted their scenarios at sea. It was also a first for the deployment of sniffer dogs to the high seas for counter drug trafficking simulations.

    Hosted by the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, the exercise aimed at assessing and improving the GoG law enforcement capacity, promote national and regional security, improve knowledge of African Maritime Law Enforcement Partnership (AMLEP), planning and operations, as well as shape security forces’ assistance efforts.

    A multi-phased exercise, which promotes the importance of regional cooperation between all the navies in the GoG, OBANGAME Express, a Fang, Southern Cameroonian word for togetherness, is designed to improve regional cooperation, maritime domain awareness, information sharing and enhance the collective capabilities of member states to counter illegalities in the maritime domain.

    It also served to demonstrate and evaluate operational capability to respond to maritime events, prevent and counter maritime threats; demonstrate power projection and the ability to effectively operate as a multinational force under a regional control authority; demonstrate and evaluate maritime operations centre operability with tactical units and evaluate and access Africa Partnership Station (APS) training effects.

    For this year, the Nigerian Navy (NN) deployed eight warships, including two Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs)- NNS CENTENARY and NNS UNITY; two maritime patrol helicopters to complement a warship each deployed by the US, Togolese and Portuguese navies for the Nigerian phase of the sea exercise.

    At the opening ceremony which held at the Naval Dockyard Limited (NDL) Victoria Island, Lagos, the need for regional navies to eschew suspicion, allow seamless patrol and uninterrupted hot pursuit of rogue vessels from one country’s territorial to the other was brought to the fore giving the ease with which pirates, sea robbers and other maritime offenders navigated the general area.

    Acknowledging the security challenges plaguing the region, Vice Admiral Ibas told participants at the opening ceremony in Lagos that these multifaceted and evolving threats were leading to deepening conditions inimical to peace and security. Of particular concern, he said, was the realisation that many of the threats posed a great danger to effective exploitation of the maritime environment and increasingly manifest as transnational and cross-border crimes, hence, the need for a united response by regional navies and coastguards.

    “This esteemed assembly is no doubt fully abreast of the gains of the African Integrated Maritime Strategy (AIMS) 2050 and the Yaoundé Code of Conduct of 2013, which have facilitated capacity building within a defined architecture for regional maritime security Operations.

    “These instruments have also emplaced standards for inter-regional co-operation based on law enforcement at sea, information sharing and training, further enhancing multilateral collaboration in the GoG.

    “This is the spirit that birthed the OBANGAME EXPRESS as a tool for enhancing the collective capabilities of GoG countries to counter sea-based illicit activities by improving regional cooperation,” said Ibas.

    For Vice Admiral Ibas, one of the gains of collaboration was the agreement by members of the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) Zone E to allow navies of member state chase suspect vessels into another territory without the usual bureaucratic and diplomatic bottlenecks. The development, he noted, was giving the criminals a hard time which has ultimately led to reducing maritime crime in recent times.

    While participants for the sea exercise sailed safely to the Atlantic Ocean from western waters, heads of navies and coastguards of the region, academics, European and American partners, among others converged on the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island for a three-day Senior Leadership Symposium to seek lasting solution to sea robbery, piracy, crude oil theft, Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing, human and illicit trafficking of weapons and drugs to name a few.

    At sea, the participating platforms conducted exercises, such as tactical manoeuvring, counter illicit trafficking, search and rescue, anti-piracy, energy security, ship boarding and queries, air operations, communication drills, regional information sharing, anti-illegal fishing, advanced medical training, Vessel Boarding Search and Seizure (VBSS), vertical assault simulations and Gun Exercises (Gunnex).

    “The anti-arms and narcotics smuggling began at exactly 10 am of day-two. The simulation saw the Portuguese ship interrogate NNS Centenary which acted as a suspect vessel. What played out was that the suspect vessel had declared that it was only carrying spare parts, just for the security forces to find drugs (cocaine) onboard, which led to arrest of the captain and five crew members.

    “The second exercise started at exactly 14:35 pm and involved six ships including two vessels from NN, and one respectively from Portugal, Cameroon, Morrocco and U.S. The contingent carried out battle formations before the exercise proper.

    “On day three, the simulation of illegal drugs and fishing happened. After the illegal vessel was arrested, they were interrogated, arrested then handed over to the immigration for further investigation and persecution. Afterwards, a search and rescue operation was carried out during the simulation of a hijacked vessel.  Day four saw the repetition of search and rescue operation. However, helicopter landing and medical evacuation also took place,” narrated a journalist who was onboard NNS CENTENARY for the five-day sea exercise

    Reviewing the exercise at the closing ceremony in Lagos, the U.S. NAVAF described this edition as the most difficult since the commencement of OBANGAME Express.

    The difficulties notwithstanding, US Navy Admiral James Foggo scored this year’s excellent, noting that exercise scenarios were specifically drafted to suit maritime threats in the region.

    He said: “I have served in the headquarters of the African Partnership Station since 2010 and when we started, we did not have maritime operational centres; we did not have the Yaounde Code of Conduct in the maritime domain of the Gulf of Guinea.

    “Now, countries collaborate better than they did in 2010 because of relationships built as a result of OBANGAME Express held every year. We have made incredible progress.

    “This year was even more difficult. We had sniffer dogs for anti-drug trafficking simulations. We had Special Boats Services (SBS) from the Nigerian Navy. For the first time, we had the Maritime Domain Awareness Centre as part of the exercise.

    “We are enthusiastic about successes recorded in the past nine years as we look forward to the 10th year. I give this year’s exercise an A+. “Firstly, we had 33 countries, 2500 participants from navies and coastguards from GoG nations, Europe, Cape Verde and North America all coming to participate in maritime domain security.

    ‘In the last couple of weeks, we have had 85 series of exercises, 95 ships some big as NNS THUNDER and others as small as patrol crafts. We had 12 aircraft participating and providing Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR).

    “We did so many exercises, some started off slow and easy till it got very hard like a vertical assault at sea: that is training with risk. We will take the lessons learnt and implement in the next one.”

    Forggo said he was enthusiastic about success recorded in the past nine years and looked forward to the 10th year.

    Read also: Indian government seeks closer ties with Nigerian Navy

    Acknowledging that maritime crimes in the GoG had evolved beyond the scope and capabilities of each nation, Defence Minister Mansur Dan-Ali called for collaborative commitment for a common approach.

    Dan-Ali, who was represented by Director Navy, Patrick Ekawu, said the scourge of various forms of illegalities constituted serious challenges to the development of the countries in the region.

    “One commonality amongst these maritime threats is that they have become transnational and have evolved beyond the scope and capability of one nation to combat. For most of the Gulf of Guinea Navies and Coast Guards therefore, one of the major implications of the emerging security equation is the increasing demand for maritime policing functions. Regrettably, in the past decade, a huge capability gap has emerged amongst Gulf of Guinea Navies and Coast Guards, in the efficient discharge of these roles.

    “The situation increasingly gave rise to the need for greater international collaboration as well as interagency cooperation across various national capabilities and policy levels. It is against this background that Exercise OBANGAME EXPRESS has remained relevant in developing the capabilities of the various navies and coast guards in the Gulf of Guinea to combat maritime security challenges within their maritime domain, collaboration with international partners, relevant maritime security agencies and organisations…

    “Permit me to reiterate that the magnitude of most maritime threats and their inter-connectedness, coupled with the fact that they provide such a diversity of impact demand that we keep coming together to fashion collaborative framed responses. I make bold to state that no single Navy or Coast Guard can do it alone. It is therefore hoped that the lessons from this exercise would be developed into collaborative action plans to support strategic-level initiatives to enhance our collective preparedness to meet emerging future maritime challenges in the ever-changing strategic security environment.”

    To Vice Admiral Ibas, the exercise achieved its objectives as it showcased the use and importance of communication among the nations in the respective maritime zones, especially in areas of maritime interdiction operations. “It also created a platform for the NN to practice the operationalisation of the Harmonised Standard Operation Procedures for arrest, detention and prosecution of a criminal vessel in our waters.

    “The exercise of the task elements in anti-piracy, hostage rescue operations and tactical fleet manoeuvres, in particular, is most rewarding. Furthermore, I recognise among the several other highpoints the valuable practice of the Special Forces in VBSS operations, and insertion/extraction of troops, evidence collected from crime scenes in conjunction with the MDAs in furtherance of law enforcement and the staging of mock MEDEVAC.

    “The prospects of greater integration of the established maritime security mechanism covering ECCAS 4 zones (A-D) and ECOWAS zones E, F and G as a structure to support security in the GoG has pleasantly been raised both from the understanding secured from the complimentary Senior Leadership Symposium and in the combined exercise. We can by this achievement, look forward to greatly enhanced mutual support operations at sea.”

    Speaking at a pre-event briefing, Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Adm. Obed Ngalabak, said about 31 countries, including 20 African nations and 11 allied countries, were participating in the exercise.

    Ngalabak said: “The Obangame Express is aimed at assessing and improving GOG law enforcement capacity, promoting national and regional security, improving knowledge of African Maritime Law Enforcement Partnership (AMLEP) planning and operations and shaping security force assistance efforts.

    “The overall objectives are to assess each of the participating countries’ capabilities in Maritime Domain Awareness and Maritime Interdiction Operations.’’

  • Navy trains 19 officers on advanced ICT

    Pressed by the need for Information and Communication Technology (ICT)-driven solutions to combat maritime illegalities, the Navy at the weekend concluded a seven-week intensive course for 19 officers.

    The officers; lieutenant commander to sub-lieutenants, were from various units and commands. The course was initiated by the Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC).

    Of 19 participants, 17 graduated wirh Second Class, one each had Third Class and Pass grades, Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas said at the graduation ceremony on Friday.

    Ibas, who was represented by Director of Naval Transformation Rear Admiral Jason Gbasa said the maiden ICT course was aimed at improving officers capabilities.

    “I want to sincerely thank the FOC NAVTRAC Rear Admiral Stanfford Enoch for…sponsoring the course … To the participants, there is no doubt that NNS QUORRA must have provided you with an excellent opportunity of extending your knowledge of the ICT…

    Earlier, Enoch said the training was to build capacity of personnel in the CIT and other departments of the Navy to enhance their professional competence.

    “It is also to improve their knowledge and skills in manning, managing and operating Navy ICT platforms and infrastructure. Today, the world over, ICT is the driver of progress and development and no serious-minded institution, especially the military, would want to be left behind…

    “Furthermore, ICTs have changed the way organisations conduct their businesses, making them faster, better and more efficient. Hence, for us to evolve into a naval force better suited for operations of the 21st century, we need to address identified knowledge and skills gaps…” he said.

    Enoch said the seven week training was a big step by NAVTRAC to bridge expertise gaps in the CIT Department.

    “With the benefit of hindsight; the course duration would now be increased to accommodate the voluminous course contents in order to give participants the best.

    “…the command has sunk enormous resources to ensure the take-off and successful completion of this course…be reminded that the service has heavily invested in you … You must, therefore, demonstrate a high return on investment by replicating the knowledge and skills acquired…

    “You should be able to set up a wireless access network, manage database and administer servers in your units.  The hands-on practical experience infused into the course curriculum was geared towards achieving this objective,” he said.

    He advised beneficiaries to leave their comfort zone, step into new realities, noting the dynamism and speed of the IT world; urging them to develop IT solutions and applications to solve the training and operational needs of the Navy.

  • Navy rescues 2-month old baby, 11 others from drowning in Rivers

    The Nigerian Navy in Port Harcourt says it rescued a two-month-old baby and 11 others from drowning in Ngo waterways in Rivers.

    Lt. Ernest Jim, Base Information Officer, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, Port Harcourt, made the disclosure on Friday.

    He said troops on routine patrol of the waterways sighted a capsized boat and immediately intervened to rescue the 12 passengers.

    “The boat mishap happened at about 1330 hours on Thursday, March 28 around Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG) Map Jetty in Ngo, Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers.

    “It is gratifying to state that all 11 passengers and the baby were rescued with no casualty recorded,” he said.

    Jim said the rescued passengers were later taken to a nearby NLNG medical facility for check up.

    The Navy spokesman said that preliminary investigation showed that the boat was loaded above capacity, advising operators against taking passengers beyond the capacity of their boat.

  • Navy tests officers’ strength in 10km walk

    No test the physical fitness of its personnel, the Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC) at the weekend embarked on a compulsory 10km route march across the 11 units and schools under it.

    In Lagos, the march saw the assembly of over a thousand officers and ratings marching from the command’s headquarters in Apapa to the National Stadium and back.

    All dressed in their camouflage and boots, the personnel who were not bearing arms however, had armed squadrons marching infront and behind them in case of any eventuality.

    Speaking to reporters aftet the route march, Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) NAVTRAC Rear Admiral Stanfford Enoch said it was the command’s first quarter route march for 2019, adding that it is aimed at ensuring that personnel were physically and mentally ready at all times to discharge their duties.

    Read also: US Navy Band engages instrumentalists in Lagos

    Rear Admiral Enoch, who was represented by the command’s ashore officer Commodore Adesola Adesope said from observation during the exercise, the personnel were ready for any emergency, adding that they were fit to discharge their duties creditably.

    He said NAVTRAC was aware of security challenges facing the country and would ensure trainings are tailored to address these problems in line with the directives of the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas.

  • Navy tests personnel strength in 10km walk

    To test the physical fitness of its personnel, the Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC) at the weekend embarked on a compulsory 10km route march across the 11 units and schools under it.

    In Lagos, the march saw the assembly of over a thousand officers and ratings marching from the command’s headquarters in Apapa to the National Stadium and back.

    All dressed in their camouflage and boots, the personnel who were not bearing arms, however, had armed squadrons marching confront and behind them in case of any eventuality.

    Speaking to reporters after the route march, Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) NAVTRAC Rear Admiral Stanfford Enoch said it was the command’s first quarter route march for 2019, adding that it is aimed at ensuring that personnel were physically and mentally ready at all times to discharge their duties.

    Read Also: Navy seeks effective prosecution of maritime offenders

    Enoch who was represented by the command’s ashore officer Commodore Adesola Adesope said from observation during the exercise, the personnel were ready for any emergency, adding that they were fit to discharge their duties creditably.

    He said NAVTRAC was aware of security challenges facing the country and would ensure training is tailored to address these problems in line with the directives of the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas.

  • Navy seeks effective prosecution of maritime offenders

    How to effectively prosecute arrested pirates and other maritime offenders was a major issue raised during the 2019 multinational sea exercise OBANGAME Express in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG), The Nation learnt yesterday.

    It was gathered that the Nigerian Navy (NN) was worried at the frequent release on bail or outright dismissal of charges against suspects by the court, a situation that has been blamed on the absence of genuine collaboration and understanding.

    The feeling of suspension and distrust among the agencies, according to the Officer in Tactical Command (OTC) Commodore Dickson Olisemenogor was as a result of the quest to outsmart each other.

    Olisemenogor who spoke to journalists on board Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) CENTENARY during the exercise said there was need for a wholistic approach to issues relating to crime in the maritime sector.

    Emphasising the need for collaboration among stakeholders, he said the country would benefit more in terms of revenue generation should all concerned work towards common good.

    Adjuging the five-day sea exercise as largely successful, Olisemenogor said it would go a long way if the various agencies could continue the team spirit exhibited during the simulations.

    He said the exercise afforded participants the opportunity to test their abilities to synegise as well as assimilate operations that lead to arrest, investigate, collation of exhibits and above all sharing of information that could aid successful prosecution of maritime offenders.

    To contain cases of firearm smuggling, drug/human trafficking and illegal fishing, the OTC said the various stakeholders must work together.

    According to him, the NN has done a lot in terms of human capacity development such as joint patrol and testing of exhibit samples, adding that the exercise had fostered better understanding among GoG nations especially with the borderless sea patrols done this year.

    To the Comanmder NNS CENTENARY Captain Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, the exercise served as deterrence to criminals who would have attacked merchant vessels but for the heavy presence of warships across the GoG.

    Government agencies that took part in the sea exercise included the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Agriculture (Fisheries Department), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency  (NDLEA), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigerian Immigration Service  (NUS), Nigeria Police, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the Nigerian Army and Nigerian Air Force, among others.

  • Dedicated vessels to fight illegal fishing underway, says navy

    Following rising cases of Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing in the country, plans have been concluded by the Nigerian Navy (NN) and the Federal Department of Fisheries for the acquision of dedicated vessels to contain the trend.

    This was disclosed by the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas during an interview at the ongoing Senior Leadership Symposium in Lagos.

    Ibas who was represented by the Naval Chief of Policy and Plans Rear Admiral Beegroy Ibe-Enwo at the three-day event introduced as part of the 2019 OBANGAME Express said the navy was having closer relationship with the Fisheries Department for a more formidable front.

    Acknowledging the worsening security situation in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG), Ibas noted that collaboration between the navy, maritime stakeholders in the country and regional forces were addressing the issues, adding that 30 vessels were arrested last year, an improvement on the 37 and 45 arrests recorded in 2016 and 2017 respectively.

    He said the NN had as of December last year, handed over 247 cases to prosecuting agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) of which 51 had been successfully prosecuted.

    “What is even more disturbing is that many of the activities associated with the evolving threat scenario are directed at the economic life line of both littoral and land locked member states. In other words, the scourge of various forms of illegalities, such as sea robbery, piracy, crude oil theft, poaching, human and illicit trafficking of weapons and drugs among others constitute serious challenges to the development of all countries in our region.

    “In prosecuting these threatening factors, the periodic assessment of the efforts is a credible tool. Accordingly, the interrogation of the implementation level of the Yaoundé Code of Conduct, a major regional framework for maritime security, is unarguably overdue at over six years of existence.

    “As maritime insecurity progressively assumes transnational character, trans-border cooperation increasingly becomes the sine qua non in the mitigation of illicit maritime activities…

    “The NN also engages regularly with stakeholders and has taken measures to enhance law enforcement within the maritime domain. One positive outcome of such consultation is the launch of the Harmonised Standard Operating Procedures (HSOP) on Arrest, Detention and Prosecution of Vessels and Persons (HSOP AD&P) in Nigeria’s Maritime Environment in January 2017.

    “Further to the launch, the NN constantly engages with the Office of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation (HAGF) on modalities for implementation while stakeholders meetings with private maritime logistic support companies and the oil and gas sub-sector are convened periodically.

    “These engagements foster a shared vision on the accomplishment of maritime security tasks leading to the successful prosecution of 51 maritime crime related cases or about 20 percent of the 247 cases which the NN handed over to prosecuting agencies such as EFCC and NSCDC as at December 2018.

    “The NN’s seamless collaboration with related agencies has helped to create effective deterrence to criminals through the arrest and prosecution of various criminals. Within the past three years, over 80 errant vessels have been arrested for various acts of illegality. MT TECNE and MT NIPAL were caught in the act stealing crude oil from the crude oil loading facilities in 2017 and 2018 respectively.

    “Suffice to state that the NN arrested a total of 30 vessels in 2018 for involvement in various forms of illegality in the nation’s maritime domain. This indicates on the face value a downward trend when compared with 37 and 45 arrests recorded in 2016 and 2017 respectively. These arrests have served as deterrence and helped to support a more buoyant national economy. For instance, NNPC data indicate that crude oil losses from pipelines reduced from N51.28 billion in 2015 to N4.17 billion in 2017,” said Ibas.

    On the international front, he acknowledged the contributions of allied nations including the United States (US), United Kingdom (UK) and France for their footprints of support which have been eloquent towards encouraging and bolstering domestic and regional collaboration in practical terms and on sustainable basis.

    “The NN therefore can hardly wait to experience its partnership once again with the US Navy during Operation JUNCTION RAIN scheduled for April 2019. Already, about 20 different law enforcement agencies and maritime stakeholders have indicated intention to participate in the operation. As has always been the case, such extensive inter-agency exercise would greatly assist towards the development of organic national capabilities to achieve a sustainable maritime security and enhance the maritime business environment.

    “It is important to note that the improving domestic maritime environment has also benefited from an aggressive NN fleet recapitalisation strategy which has enabled the service to leapfrog from just a few operational capital ships and Riverine Patrol Boats (RPBs) in 2015 to a fleet of over 30 capital ships and 200 RPBs by end of 2018. “Despite these modest acquisitions, more ships with prolonged endurance such as OPVs are needed for the protection of critical assets in the deep offshore areas. Going forward, the NN would leverage such audience to strengthen discussions with international partners regarding a sustainable collaboration towards an enduring means of guaranteeing fleet availability to secure maritime commerce.

    “Apart from the need to improve maritime platforms for law enforcement at sea, there is also the frustrating part of slow criminal justice system. Thus, the inabilities of the GoG navies to fully operationalise the prospects of the Yaoundé Accord to collectively, effectively address the level of insecurity attest to limited multilateral integration among maritime enforcement agencies within the GoG. I should believe that the reversal of this state of affair is the main reason for this symposium,” he said.

    Commending the US Naval Forces Africa (US NAVAF) for hosting the symposium, Ibas said there could not have been a better time for regional partners to talk than while the joint sea exercise was ongoing.

     

     

  • Oil theft: Navy hands over six suspects, seven boats to JTF

    The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta, on Friday handed six suspected oil thieves and seven loaded Cotonou boats over to the headquarters of the Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) for further investigations and prosecution.

    Giving details of the handing over exercise to journalists at the NNS Delta’s base in Warri, the Commander of the NNS Delta, Commodore Ibrahim Dewu, also revealed that the suspects were arrested with products suspected to be illegally refined diesel, also known as AGO of an estimated quantity of 540,000 liters.

    Commodore Dewu, who was represented by the Executive Officer (XO) of the NNSDelta, Navy Captain Adeyemi Adewuyi, said the suspects were arrested on Wednesday, 6th of March, 2019 and that the product was said to have been procured from Opudebubo Creek in Warri South-West council area of Delta state.

    He, however, warned those involved in illegal activities in the maritime environment with the NNS Delta’s area of responsibility (AOR) to desist or face the law as the Nigerian Navy would not relent in its efforts to make the Niger Delta safe and fit for legitimate activities.

    “This morning we are handing over seven Cotonou boats that were arrested on the 6th of March to appropriate security agencies. The boats were arrested at Opudebubo Creek in Warri South-West council area of Delta state. According to the suspects, they came all the way from Igbokoda in Ondo state to buy the products from the creek. They said they were taking the product to Igbonla in Okitipupa in the Igbokoda area of Ondo state.

    “The quantity is estimated at 540,000 liters of AGO, illegally refined. We managed to arrest six suspects. The original number of the Cotonou boats was 8, however, one of them sank at the point of arrest, due to leakage. Investigation is still on and that’s why we are handing them over to the appropriate prosecuting agency for all other facts to come out.

    Six of the seven loaded Cotonou boats at the jetty of the NNS Delta on Friday.

    “I want to use this opportunity to warn all the criminals like pipeline vandals, to desist from their nefarious ways. Nigerian Navy will not relent in her efforts to stamp out criminality in the creeks of the Niger Delta”, he said.

    Meanwhile, when asked for his team’s mission in the area where they were arrested, one of the suspects, who identified himself as Odusola Irewole said he was a first timer in the illegal business, adding that he was pushed into it by lack of gainful employment.

    “We came from Ondo state on the 6th of this month to buy diesel in Opudebubo Creek. I don’t know the seller because I’m just a worker in the boat. The owner of the business is Femi Jafo. He’s in Ondo state now. This is my first time because this boat is a new boat. I’m doing this job because there’s no job anywhere else, nothing to survive on. I didn’t know it was illegal, it is now that I’m getting to know”, the suspect said.