Navy Seeks LEADERSHIP’S Support To Combat Oil Theft

The Director Information Naval Headquarters Commodore Adedotun Olukayode Ayo-Vaughan has sought the support of LEADERSHIP Group Limited to fight misinformation in the maritime environment.
Commodore Ayo-Vaughan said crude oil theft is anti-government and the Nigerian Navy takes serious issues around the nation’s maritime domain in order to protect the economic mainstay of the country.
He stated these yesterday during a courtesy call at the corporate headquarters of LEADERSHIP Group Limited in Abuja.
“We are here to seek support and canvass for more collaboration in bringing to public space information about the Navy and all that we do. We always try to make sure that people are not misinformed in an age where fake news and unverifiable news goes out to the space and people get wrong impression, wrong opinion of what should not be. We request that you allow us to use your space to tell the world what we are doing,” he said.
He dismissed reports that 200,000 barrels of crude are stolen daily, adding that it was not possible to lift such a quantity of crude without anyone’s notice. He said though crude oil theft has been there before agitation for resource control, the Navy through the falcon eye asset has made it impossible to move products to shores.
He said the service in its fight against crude theft has arrested 100 vandals and destroyed over 300 illegal refining sites.
The director explained that the pipeline surveillance contract was informed by the need to deny local vandals access to illegal crude in order to develop the modular refineries.
He said the newly acquired unmanned aerial vehicles will be deployed and integrated into the Falcon eye asset to boost the fight against crude oil theft.
He stated that MT Heroic Idun which evaded arrest in Nigeria waters was still being held by the Equatorial Guinea authorities, adding that the Nigerian government has requested it be brought back to Nigeria to face charges.
In his response, the group managing director of LEADERSHIP, Mr Muazu Elazeh assured the Nigerian Navy of LEADERSHIP’s support and readiness to help them provide the needed security for the country.
He said, “You can count on us as regards the kind of job we do, it will only get better.”