Nigeria’s Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, has vowed to crack the whip on officers who will be found to be involved in oil theft in the West African nation.
Mr. Ogalla said this while addressing newsmen at the end of his maiden familiarisation tour of the Nigeria Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder in Port Harcourt last Friday.
He said the navy was fully-focused and had already taken actionable steps to end crude oil theft and other illegalities at the nation’s territorial waters.
He said, “We are aware of allegations of involvement of our officers in crude oil theft–which are quite baseless.
“Whenever we receive such information, we quickly launch an investigation. But so far, our findings have shown that most of the allegations are not true.
“However, if there is an element of truth in the allegations, we hold the alleged personnel responsible as well as apply the law according to the Arm Forces Act,” he said.
Mr. Ogalla said that severe consequences await any personnel linked to such illegality, irrespective of how highly placed the officer or rating.
“The punishment ranges from imprisonment and dismissal. We have had cases in the past and appropriate actions were taken.
“However, more than 97 per cent of these allegations are based on social media, and as such, they have no proper background.
“We are in the age of social media when anybody without proof or having full details will just put something up there (on social media platforms).
“But if you go through most of those allegations and investigate them, you find out that the basis of those allegations is unfounded,” he added.
Last Thursday, a joint task force, Operation Delta Safe, uncovered three reservoirs used for the storage of illegal refined fuel in Bayelsa.
The reservoirs, which were located along Tamara Street in Biogbolo, had about 35,000 litres of Automated Gas Oil and 38 jerry cans filled with illegally refined products loaded in a vehicle.
“The building has been taken over. We have three dug-out pits within the building with a vehicle also carrying about 38 jerry cans filled with illegally refined products.
“This is to show that the OPDS is working and not relenting at getting rid of criminals in the Niger Delta, because illegality is affecting the economy of the country.
“You can see the building is situated in a place where they could have other buildings.
“Apart from constituting health hazard for other people that are living in the community, other dangers can happen also,” Commodore John Siyanbade, who represented the OPDS Commander, Rear Adm. Olusegun Ferreira said.
He warned those involved in illegality in the region to desist or be ready to face the law.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com