Naval Chief Engages Maritime Stakeholders Against Oil Theft

The chief of the naval staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla has stressed the need for collective efforts of maritime stakeholders towards addressing crude oil theft and boosting outputs.

He reiterated the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to creating a conducive environment for maritime trade and the development of blue economy.

Ogalla stated this on Tuesday at a meeting with key maritime stakeholders at Naval Headquarters, Abuja.

The naval chief said the service has in the last six months under his leadership strived towards ensuring maritime security by conducting several operations and emplacing policies aimed at boosting crude oil production and curbing the menace of oil theft.

He, however, said such would not have been possible without the sincere understanding, cooperation and support of the maritime stakeholders.

“Owing to the fact that the collective effort of our maritime stakeholders is required to create a conducive environment for increased oil production and maritime economic activities, the Nigerian Navy has deemed it necessary to call this all-important stakeholders’ meeting,” he said.

He said the Nigerian Navy has recorded some successes through various operations and bilateral engagements to attain its strategic goals.

Ogalla said, “In realisation of the need to consolidate on gains recorded in our various operations, we have deemed it imperative for us all to jointly look at the salient issues bothering on maritime security, ease of doing maritime businesses and observance of operational procedures among others, for enhanced national security and economic prosperity.

“This meeting therefore is one of the regular engagements with the NN, aimed at fostering common understanding, synergy and mutual trust among maritime stakeholders.

Accordingly, the meeting will focus on addressing some pertinent concerns that will strengthen our partnerships and working relationships so that we will all benefit optimally from the maritime environment and foster the nation’s blue economy for Nigeria’s national development.”

Ogalla said that in spite of the steady decline in the rate of maritime crimes and significant rise in oil production recently, Nigeria had not been able to meet OPEC quota for production.

This, according to him, has been a serious issue for the federal government in terms of revenue generation, which is key to solving the myriad of economic challenges that are facing this nation.

“Together, we shall evolve approaches that leave no loophole for the criminal elements and economic saboteurs to exploit,” he said.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, the chief of policy and plans (Navy), Rear Admiral Joseph Akpan, said the meeting was aimed at reviewing navy’s operations, procedures and outcomes.

This, he said was with a view to identifying areas that require adjustment for better performance, adding that the practice of feedback in the form of performance indicators were commonplace.

On behalf of the stakeholders, the executive vice president (Downstream) NNPCL, Mr Dapo Segun, said the meeting would further help to reinforce all they had been able to collaborate safely to achieve.

He said he was looking forward to having candid discussions about the challenges and also the opportunities.

He said that they would bring to the table the challenges of pipeline vandalism and the like, which he said were not new but dynamic.