Oil Theft: Navy Hands Barge, TUG Over To EFCC

The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) DELTA has handed over the impounded TUG MV STEPH 1 and Barge SIMI to the officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The arrested vessels, laden with product suspected to be stolen Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO), were handed over to the anti-graft agency on Wednesday at the NNS DELTA Jetty. Commander88 Samuel Musa, the Base Operations Officer (BOO) of NNS DELTA released the vessels to the EFCC on behalf of the Commander, NNS DELTA, Commodore Chindo Yahaya. Addressing newsmen, Yahaya said that Barge SIMI was impounded with about 120,000 litres of product suspected to be AGO at Workson Jetty, Edjeba, on the NPA Expressway in Warri South. He said that TUG MV STEPH 1 was arrested at KFT Yard, Edjeba on the NPA Expressway while discharging suspected AGO into some rubber tanks. The commander said that the two vessels were arrested on July 6. “On July 6, 2023, NNS DELTA arrested Barge SIMI, laden with about 120,000 litres of product suspected to be AGO at Workson Jetty, Edjeba on the NPA Expressway. “The barge was without necessary documents and approvals. “Preliminary investigation revealed that the product is an accumulation of Remnants On Board (ROB) from various vessels. “Accordingly, Barge SIMI is hereby handed over to the EFCC for detailed investigation and further necessary action. “Similarly, On July 6, 2023, NNS DELTA also arrested TUG MV STEPH I at KFT Yard, Edjeba on the NPA Expressway in Warri,” he said. Yahaya said that TUG MV STEPH 1 was caught discharging product without necessary documentation, and approvals adding that it was consequently detained and taken to NNS DELTA. “Accordingly, TUG MV STEPH 1 is hereby handed over to the EFCC for detailed investigation and further necessary action,” he said. Yahaya said that the NNS DELTA was poised to rid-off its area of illegal activities or operations. He warned those who indulged in such illegalities to desist forthwith. Mr Gomina Suru, Assistant Cdr. EFCC Two, Benin Zonal Command led officials of the anti-graft agency to receive the vessels on behalf of the Commission. “I am directed by the EFCC Two, Benin Zonal Command to take over the TUG and Barge from the NNS DELTA for the furtherance of investigation.” Officials of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) were on ground to collect samples of the product. 

NIMASA, Navy To Partner On Blue Economy

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, and the Nigerian Navy have inaugurated a Committee to establish ways in which the synergy between both organs of government can be channeled into creating a welcoming environment for investment in the Blue Economy. Assistant Director, Public Relations, NIMASA Osagie Edward, in a statement said, Flag Officer Commanding (FOC West), Rear Admiral Mustapha Hassan, who inaugurated the 8-Man Committee charged them to come up with policies to create a welcoming maritime environment for investment in the Nigerian Blue Economy. Membership of the 8-Man Committee includes on the Navy side, Rear Admiral Mustapha Hassan, FOC, Western Naval Command; Cdre K.O. Oguntuga, Commander NNS Beecroft; Cdre N.S. Kaman, COO Western Naval Command and Capt. A. U. Tijani. The Committee members representing NIMASA namely, Director Deep Blue Project, Chief Otonye Obom; Head Shipping Development, Kurahson Inuwa; Head, ISPS, Isa Mudi; and Deputy Director,  Cabotage Services, Aisha Usman Dangote. You will recall that the Agency’s Director General, Dr. Bashir Jamoh OFR, during a visit by a delegation from the Nigerian Navy to the Agency’s headquarters in Lagos recently, had announced the constitution of an 8-Man committee, comprising four each from the Navy and NIMASA. 

Navy Arrests 8 Over Illegal Bunkering Activities

The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT patrol team has arrested eight persons in a wooden boat involved in illegal bunkering activities within the Lagos anchorage. The Commander NNS BEECROFT, Commodore Kolawole Oguntuga, said this during the handing over of the suspects to officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) at NNS BEECROFT, Apapa, Lagos State. Oguntuga, who was represented by his Deputy, Capt. Christian Akokota, said that the feat was made possible on October 25, using the Maritime Domain Awareness Facility, the Falcone Eye Alignment. The commander said that the wooden boat, laden with eight-member crew, over 300 drums, pumping machines and other equipment was prevented from getting to its destination to perpetrate illegal bunkering. He gave the names of the suspects as: Selafei Tito, Seba Hunton, Etieni Abibu, Ahousansou Lawlent, Oke Job, Abel Yede, Matiye Husa and Husa Hungha. “This illegal activity would have robbed the nation of huge quantity of products for consumption by Nigerians. “The timely interception by the patrol team is also commendable, as it prevents disaster associated with illegal handling of these inflammable petroleum products by unscrupulous people,” the commander said. Oguntuga said that the proactive response further reveals Nigerian Navy’s unwavering commitment under the leadership of the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Adm. Emmanurl Ogalla. He said that the Navy would remain committed to safeguarding vital resources as well as the effective safety of live and property, particularly within the maritime domain. “We remain resolute at effective ocean governance by ensuring the full weight of the law is meted on perpetrators of maritime crimes, which is necessary to sustain economic prosperity of the nation. “The arrested persons will be properly interrogated to expose their motives and the identities of likely sponsors in the course of the investigation prior to prosecution,” Oguntuga said.

Navy deploys Deep Blue assets to secure Nigerian waters

The Nigerian Navy says assets acquired by NIMASA under the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, otherwise known as the Deep Blue project, have been fully deployed. This is contained in a statement by the Acting Fleet Commander, Western Naval Command and Commander Deep Blue Project, Commodore Victor Choji, in Lagos at the weekend. He said the deployment was across the South West, Central and Eastern Zonal operations to enhance patrol of the Nigerian maritime domain. Choji made the declaration during a working visit by the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Mohammed Abdullahi to the Management of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). He added that the Nigerian Navy under the leadership of the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla was fully committed to the success of the Deep Blue Project. “The assets have already been well deployed; as we speak five armored vehicles are deployed in Port Harcourt and three in Bonny. “The project team deployed 10 more vehicles there, in addition to a drone unit in Bonny and some personnel,” the commander added. According to him, the mere presence of the deep blue assets in those locations during the last General election provided the needed inference required. Choji also said that in the Central Zone Command, the Navy had deployed three units of special mission elements in Brass and two of the interceptor boats, and a special intervention force to the central command. “In Lagos, just last week, we got a directive that there is a requirement and we are about to deploy two interceptor boats to support the operations that are ongoing in Lagos Inland waters. “I can state categorically that we have the full backing of the Nigerian Navy for the success of the Deep Blue Project,” Choji said. On his part, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh, said that the assets acquired by the agency under the Deep Blue Project were being managed by a project team headed by a Commodore of the Nigerian Navy. He restated the Agency’s commitment to a robust relationship with the Nigerian Navy towards the economic development of the country. “I believe that the agency and the Nigerian Navy have a lot in common to ensure safety and security in the nation’s waters. “While the Nigerian Navy takes care of the kinetic operations, NIMASA concentrates on non-kinetic operations, and the two will have to go hand in hand if we must succeed. “If you look at the Armed Forces Act, the Nigerian Navy has a role to play in ensuring the implementation and enforcement of the NIMASA and Customs and Excise Acts,” he said. Jamoh expressed the desire of NIMASA to earn full value for funds invested and invest more in the operations of the Deep Blue Project. He said that the agency was in constant liaison with the National Assembly to update of the nation’s maritime laws with particular reference to the Merchant Shipping Act. This, he said, was to guarantee adequate punitive measures to deter criminalities on Nigerian waters. While commending the Nigerian Navy for their efforts in tracking erring vessels which switched off their Automatic Identification System, AIS, Jamoh called for improved synergy among all organs of government in the maritime sector. “Particularly, the Nigerian Navy and the marine arm of the Nigerian Police to quickly tackle head on, pockets of recent criminalities in the Lagos anchorage and inland waters,” he said. 

Kogi Guber: Court orders security agencies to protect SDP’s Ajaka 

Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday ordered security agencies in the country to provide maximum security to the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), in the November governorship election in Kogi State, Murtala Ajaka. The order is following an ex-parte application made before the court by the governorship flagbearer, dated July 11, seeking a restraining order against the security agencies from arresting, inviting, detaining, or threatening the applicant’s life and property pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.  By the order, the security agencies which include the Chief of Defence Staff, Army, Navy, DSS and Police are to guarantee the safety of the SDP candidate, pending the hearing of a suit filed before the court. Defendants in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/952/2023, are the Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, the Inspector General (IG) of Police, the Commissioner of Police (Kogi State), DSS, the Director General of DSS, Director DSS (Kogi State), Commandant General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Naval Staff as 1st to 11th respondents, respectively. The court held that Ajaka’s request through his counsel, Mr. Sunday Aruwa, SAN, was meritorious and accordingly granted it as prayed. “An Order is hereby made restraining the respondents, their agents, servants and anybody acting through or under them from arresting, inviting, detaining or threatening the applicant’s life and property pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.  “An Order is hereby made compelling the 2nd – 11th respondents to immediately provide maximum security to the applicant in Abuja FCT, Kogi State, and elsewhere in Nigeria pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit”, the judge ruled. Before adjourning to July 21 for a hearing, the court ordered the applicant to serve the respondents with all the processes in this suit together with the Order of the Court.  Before the court’s order on Thursday, Ajaka had earlier petitioned Governor Yahaya Bello to the IGP, Mr Olukayode Egbetokun over an alleged threat to his life, as well as that of members of his family.