Tag: Ogalla

…says many personnel disciplined over involvement in oil theft

The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, has said that the Nigerian Navy (NN) Special Operations Command, being established in Makurdi, Benue State, was to coordinate training for operatives fighting on land.

He said the command was part of the Navy’s total spectrum maritime security strategy which requires the emplacement of a well-trained and equipped land fighting naval force that will play the aid to civil authority role of the Navy when the time arises.

Admiral Ogalla revealed this on Monday morning at a live interview on Channels Television’s morning show, Sunrise Daily.

According to him, there were limitations in providing personnel who could adequately fight on land since the service’s orientation was marine, adding that Makurdi was chosen because of the vast landmass around the River Benue, as well as the insecurity in that axis that would need to be checked.

He said, “In the Nigerian Navy, we have our Total Spectrum Maritime Security Strategy, which identifies our operations to be conducted in five spectrums. One of those spectrums is land operation, and this is because the Navy is expected to provide military aid to civil authority, aid to civil power.

“That’s why we are deployed in almost 30 states of the federation in support of the army and the police in fighting insecurity. That’s why we are deployed in Maiduguri, Chad Basin, the Northwest, Northeast, South, everywhere in that particular role of providing aid to civil authority.

“We identified that because of our very few numbers, we are having limitations with respect to being able to provide a much-needed force. We also have limitations with respect to providing personnel who are adequately trained to fight on land, being that our orientation is maritime-based.

“So the Special Operations Command and the Marines that we are establishing are essentially to be able to train people who can fight on land in line with our Total Spectrum Maritime Strategy.

“We are already doing it, but we want to do it better. And why have we chosen Makurdi? Of course, you know the River Benue is a vast expanse of landmass and the insecurity that is taking place in those areas.

“Also, you notice that the elements of that command will not all be in Makurdi alone. For instance, the Navy Base in Lake Chad will be a unit of that command, and the Navy Base in Shagunu will also be a unit of that command.

“So many of the units that are fighting on land, for instance, also our Special Boat Service (SBS), all those units will be part of the command. So the command is essentially to provide a coordination framework for all our Special Forces Operations that are supposed to contribute in the provision of internal security and military aid to civil power.”

The CNS also spoke on the navy’s war against oil thieves and how the efforts were contributing to the reduction of the menace.

He revealed that in the last year, several personnel of the NN had undergone disciplinary actions over their involvement in oil theft, adding that some of those found guilty were handed various punishments, including dismissal, demotion, prison sentences after Court Marshal and serious reprimand.

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Stressing that there was no room for collusion by personnel of the Navy, Admiral Ogalla said: “One thing about crime is that people are likely to commit crime if they know that they are not likely to be detected and punished. So the first thing we have done is to improve our monitoring and detection of elements that are likely to commit a crime.

“We have also given the commanders in the field the freedom to be able to monitor their personnel and bring them to justice at any time. In the last year or thereabout, we have been able to arrest so many of our personnel who, one way or the other, decided to get involved with the criminals. “Many of them have been sentenced to jail terms by court martial. Some have been dismissed from service. For those who have minor cases, some of them have been given a reduction in rank, a reduction in rates, and some loss of seniority. This has been a serious deterrent to would-be offenders.

“I can tell you that every year the situation keeps on improving because most personnel know that the possibility of them being caught is almost 90%. Not only because the Nigerian Navy is watching, but the community is watching and sending us reports. Other stakeholders are also watching and sending reports to us about the involvement of our men.

“I think it’s too risky now for any personnel to make that attempt because if they do, they are likely to be caught and the punishment that will be brought to them in line with the Armed Forces Act will not be something that anybody would want to have.”

He reiterated the call for a special tribunal to prosecute oil thieves in order to accelerate justice, revealing that the Navy has made a case to the Attorney General of the Federation, who was fine-tuning the documents before a bill to that effect would be sent to the National Assembly.

In the meantime, the CNS said the NN would continue to do its best and follow the normal processes of prosecution, adding that the rancour between the Navy and other stakeholders, especially private security contractors, had been reduced drastically because parties have a better understanding of their common goal.

“One thing the public may not know is that oil theft has always been on the decline, particularly since the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, when he gave us a marching order to ensure that we reduce this issue of crude oil theft. Although the Navy has other roles, most of the issues being discussed today is around oil theft.

“That’s why we are launching new operations, new platforms, all aimed at drastically reducing this. I will not tell you that it can be brought to zero.

But we believe that it can be reduced to such a level where it becomes so insignificant that it does not affect the development of this country, nor hamper oil production.”

“We have a strategy that will look at the issue of surveillance. How are we able to ensure that we monitor the environment in such a way that we can detect these occurrences, even when they are being planned?

“That’s why the issue of multi-domain awareness capability comes into play. Then we talk about response.

This is where it’s very critical because you require sophisticated platforms, vessels, helicopters, unarmed aerial vehicles, and several others for you to be able to respond effectively to these threats. We have it in our fleet renewal plan to increase the size of our fleet.

“Then we also develop the human capacity that will be able to operate these platforms and operate the equipment that we are procuring…All these are part of the enablers that are being provided to ensure that we improve on our capacity, and we are really improving,” said the Naval Chief.

The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, has said that the acquisition of several platforms for the Nigerian Navy had significantly strengthened the navy’s response capability, enabling it to tackle maritime threats more effectively.

Vice Admiral Ogalla also said that the strategic leadership and guidance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was instrumental in providing the Navy with required resources that is helping the service to carry out its constitutional roles.

The Naval chief said this on Wednesday when he delivered a lecture to participants of Course 33 of the National Defence College Nigeria (NDC) in Abuja.

He said that the Nigeria maritime environment was blessed with various economic potentials, but also filled with diverse threats most of which are rooted in complex socio- economic situations such as piracy, armed robbery on sea, illegal fishing, oil theft and pipeline vandalism among others.

The CNS noted that if the crimes remain unchecked, it could disrupt economic activities and deprive the nation of much needed revenue. 

According to Ogalla, tackling maritime threats requires a strategic response that leverages modern technologies, well-trained personnel, and enhanced platforms. 

This approach, he said, is crucial in addressing the complex and evolving nature of these threats.

While acquainting the participants with the navy’s efforts at improving maritime security for national development, the naval chief said the naval was conscious that the maritime environment is the hub of socio economic development of the country, hence has always developed strategies to effectively protect and police the environment. 

Ogalla noted that the navy’s strategic and operational response to maritime threats include conceptualizing multi- layers Total Spectrum Maritime Strategy that projects power across a wide spectrum ranging from backwaters, territorial waters, exclusive economic zone to include out of area and land operations.

The CNS said the Navy conducts surveillance of Nigerian maritime space using modern technology like Regional Maritime Awareness Capability centres and FALCON EYE alignment systems. He emphasised that the surveillance systems enable real-time monitoring of vessels to identify involvement in illegal activities.

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He said: “Our efforts through surveillance have detected several vessels attempting to load crude oil and LNG at offshore terminals without requisite approval. The Nigerian Navy has also acquired several capital ships, boats, and air assets, including deployment of indigenous manufactured special duty boats, which have also significantly strengthened the Nigerian Navy response capability in maritime crime.”

The naval chief also highlighted the importance of effective law enforcement strategy for effective prosecution of maritime offenders and advocacy campaigns for community support in the Nigerian Navy operations. 

The Commandant National Defence College, Rear Admiral Olumuyiwa Olotu in his remarks, thanked the CNS for delivering the lecture in person despite his tight schedule. 

Lotus said the lecture exposes the participants to efforts of the Nigerian Navy towards safeguarding the maritime environment of the country for economic growth and development. 

He extols the strategic leadership capacity of the CNS, which he said was exemplary, people centric and yielding results “that not only chased criminals out of the maritime space but also ensured that they remain out of that space.” 

The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, has reiterated the commitment of the Nigerian Navy towards ensuring a peaceful, secure, and prosperous Gulf of Guinea (GoG).

Ogalla gave the commitment on Wednesday at the opening of the 8th edition Symposium of Heads of Navies and Coastguards in the GoG, on the maritime environment in Abuja.

The symposium with the theme “Maritime Security and Sustainable Development in the Gulf of Guinea” was hosted by the Nigerian Navy in partnership with the European Union (EU) and the French Navy,

It has in attendance about 30 heads of navies and coastguards from GoG countries and international partners.

Ogalla said that the GoG region had been discovered to hold enormous resources, particularly in the area of oil and gas, adding that the sustainable development and exploitation of those resources as well as the management were critical to Africa’s growth and global economy.

According to him, Nigeria’s economy depends largely on its oil resources, and that is similar to some other Gulf of Guinea nations.

The CNS said that the sea was a fluid environment that required shared commitment.

He said: “In line with our statutory roles, the Nigerian Navy continues to conduct maritime security operations and champion the process for international collaboration and security initiatives for securing the region.

“In spite of our efforts and the efforts of other neighbouring countries in the GoG to ensure maritime security for legitimate businesses to thrive, there are still some myriads of challenges.

“These challenges include sea robbery, proliferation of small arms and light weapons, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, and human trafficking, just to mention a few.

“Most of these crimes are transnational in nature and require a collective approach involving all navies and coastguards.”

Ogalla said the symposium was aimed at fostering world creation through the development of Africa’s oceans, particularly the GoG nation’s economy, within a secured maritime environment.

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He said that the symposium had since its inception in 2015, strived to promote maritime security in the region.

He said: This symposium has always been a veritable tool for us to discuss issues that relate to how well we are implementing the recommendations of the Yaonde Code of Conduct.

“It has always been a veritable tool for us to assess our performance in the area of information sharing, particularly as it affects the regional information system.

“The complexities of maritime security are ever-evolving and transcend national borders, so most of our capabilities in monitoring and sharing of real-time information, as well as for the key maritime offenders, transcend our borders.

“The Interconnectedness of our waters also requires that we strengthen international partnerships for enduring solutions to maritime security.”

In his remarks, the Chief of the French Navy, Admiral Nicolas Vaujour, said the symposium provides a platform for discussing increasing challenges of piracy, illegal trafficking, terrorism, and environmental threats in GoG.

Vaujour said the sea was not only a space for cooperation but also for competition and conflict, adding that cooperation between naval forces was key to addressing maritime challenges.

He said the various joint operations and exercises, such as Grand African NEMO and Crocodile Lift, had shown the effectiveness of mutual support and shared information.

He reaffirmed France’s commitment to supporting regional efforts and expressed hope that the symposium would lead to concrete initiatives and progress toward securing the region through collaboration and trust.

*says community support emboldens maritime criminals

Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, on Friday, August 30, said no fewer than 4,606 suspects have been arrested for various maritime crimes between 2015 and 2024 in the communities within the riverine areas.

He lamented that limited community support makes maritime criminals emboldened, knowing that they may not be reported or caught in Nigeria.

Vice Admiral Ogalla disclosed this while presenting the 3rd distinguished personality lecture at the Institute for Peace and Strategic Studies (IPSS), the University of Ibadan on the lecture: “Role of the Nigerian Navy in Combatting Maritime Crimes for Enhanced Blue Economy in Nigeria”

He said that the Navy has demonstrated a strong commitment to ensuring a secure environment necessary for the development of the blue economy.

The Chief of the Naval Staff disclosed that the Navy is already pushing for the power to prosecute offenders in the core areas of its mandates.

He noted that some community leaders who justify the criminal behaviour of the criminals complicate maritime law enforcement efforts and pose a significant challenge to maritime security adding, “It also underscores the urgent need for comprehensive, society-wide solutions to address root causes of maritime criminality, which threatens the successful exploitation of Blue economy potentials in Nigeria”

He called for the establishment of special courts dedicated to maritime crimes to ensure effective and efficient justice delivery, ultimately resulting in better outcomes for law enforcement.

He expressed optimism that the speedy prosecution of maritime crimes will improve data collection and analysis which are crucial for policy and legislative formulation in combating maritime crimes, and for the development of the blue economy.

Speaking on transportation along the waterways generates approximately $1.2billion, the Naval Chief noted that the evolving “dynamics of maritime crimes could negatively affect the prospects, hence the need for pragmatic solutions to address the threats”

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While listing non-diligent prosecution of maritime crimes as one of the challenges facing the Navy in combating maritime crimes, Vice Admiral Ogalla stated: “The Nigerian Navy and other law enforcement agencies have made commendable efforts in arrest and prosecution of maritime offenders.

“However, inadequacies such as prolonged trial periods are being exploited by criminals. This has led to protracted litigation and several abandoned vessels across Nigerian Navy Bases.

“Between 2015 to date, 250 vessels arrested were handed over to prosecuting agencies, yet only 82 have been successfully prosecuted, leaving a balance of 168 still in Nigerian Navy custody In the last six years, the Nigerian Navy has lost a significant number of cases for non-diligent prosecution of maritime suspects by these prosecuting agencies.

“Likewise, over N450 million for legal services are provided for these private lawyers at the expense of essential infrastructure for the service to combat the maritime crimes”.

“These waterways provide vital access to 28 of Nigeria’s 36 states and connect 6 neighbouring countries. Nigeria’s maritime domain also has the most fertile hydrocarbon provinces in the world, underscoring its strategic importance”

Earlier In his welcome address, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode Adebowale represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Administration, Professor Peter Olapegba agreed that “a secure maritime domain is essential for the protection of our territorial integrity, the safeguarding of our economic interests, and the well-being of the millions of Nigerians who depend on the sea for their livelihoods.

“As a strategic hub for knowledge creation and re-creation in cognate areas of peace, security, and humanitarian studies, we are particularly concerned about the rise in maritime threats, including, oil theft, illegal fishing, trafficking of drugs and weapons, and piracy in particular. These illicit activities not only undermine our national security but also command the potential to stifle economic growth and development along our coasts”

Also in his remarks, the director of the Institute for Peace and Strategic Studies, Professor Ruth Adio-Moses maintained that the significance of “maritime security cannot be overstated, especially for a nation like ours blessed with a vast coastline and abundant maritime resources”

She added that the Chief of the Naval Staff was invited as part of the ongoing town-gown synergy towards proffering solutions to the myriads of problems facing the maritime space.