Oil Theft: Navy Focuses On Brown Water …As Fishermen Demand N250bn Oil Spill Compensation

Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Azubuike Ajuonu, says the Nigerian Navy has shifted patrol from traditional deep sea, to brown water, to tackle increasing crude oil theft.
Ajuonu said this in Lagos yesterday at the end of the second bi-annual inspection of the command.
”The role of the Nigerian Navy in today’s contemporary Nigeria, has gradually shifted from the traditional deep sea patrols, to brown water operations, within the creeks.
“Equally, we have also been called upon to participate in internal security operations in parts of the country with security challenges,” he said.
Ajuonu said efforts had been intensified in the training of personnel to enhance their capacity to function effectively in view of the present day challenges.
”We are all aware of the security challenges facing the country, particularly the illegalities within our maritime environment. These challenges demand high state of discipline, loyalty and professionalism.
“As trainers, we must be seen to be on top of these values, Hence, we must not relent in our strides towards producing a pool of well-trained and highly proficient personnel,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government is exploring the possibility of using an electronic pipeline surveillance to track oil theft in the country.
President Goodluck Jonathan gave this indication Friday in his closing remarks at a two-day oil and gas investment forum in Onne.
Jonathan, who was represented by the Senate President, David Mark, described the menace of oil theft as worrisome, stressing, however, that government was ready to tackle it headlong.
He said, relevant regulatory agencies are working round the clock to combat the challenge, considering the strategic position of oil and gas in the economy.
“My administration has embarked on a number of far-reaching measures to combat these unwholesome activities. Government is exploring the possibility of using electronic pipeline surveillance to track down oil theft.”
While stressing that the government was putting in place mechanism to ensure that vandals found it extremely difficult to access petroleum pipelines, the president gave assurance of continuous support to an investment drive in the sector.
“To this end, I am calling on all relevant industries to ensure that all oil and gas related cargo are discharged only at the designated terminals,” he said.
The President directed that the  agencies concerned should also ensure strict enforcement on the ban on the illegal discharge of cargo and receiving of vessels at private jetties.
He said that steps should be taken to guard against the breach of national security and loss of revenue to the government.
Jonathan said the choice of the Onne oil and gas free trade zone was strategic, as it will showcase the investors’ confidence in the Nigerian economy as “seeing is believing”.
According to him, government generated revenue in the zone has increased from $5.4 billion to $7.1 billion in 2013 and the FDI from $4 billion to $4.2 billion dollars in 2013.
“Available statistics indicate that the companies operating in the free zone have increased from 150 in 2011 to 170 in 2013, employment regeneration has increased from 30,000 in 2011 to 34,000 in 2013.
“Support to family livelihood has grown from 180,000 in 2011 to 200,000 in 2013. If these indices are not indicating an attractive environment for investors, I wonder what else they are,” he said.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga, said the Oil and Gas Free Zone (OGFTZ) would continue to be a catalyst for the diversification of the economy.
Meanwhile, fishermen in Unyenge community, Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have demanded N250 billion compensation from an oil company, Universal Energy Resources Ltd. (UERL).
The fishermen told newsmen in Mbo yesterday that they made the demand under the aegis of Famous Fishing Organisation (FFO).
The chairman of the organisation, Mr Johnson Harry, told newsmen that the members were affected by the August 15 oil spill from the company’s oil field in Stubb Creek.
According to him, the spill emptied about 2,000 barrels of crude into the Ede Akpa River in the area and has prevented them from fishing— their only source of livelihood.
He also said that the oil company should pay adequate compensation to farmers in the community who were also affected by the oil spill.
“The oil flowed to Ede Akpa River where we do our fishing activities and destroyed our fishing equipment and as a result, we can no longer fish in the river again,’’  he said
He said that the oil spill also destroyed farmlands in the area, affecting the livelihood of 5,000 farmers in Unyenge community.
Harry said that the spill had caused untold hardship to the people of the area, and that some of their members had died of hunger and starvation, as a result.
“We cannot farm, and according to international standard, if there is an oil spill, you have to wait for 10 years before you can start farming again,’’ Harry said.
“The hazardous substances coming from the spilled crude has destroyed aquatic life, raffia palms and fishing nets.
“Even the air we breath in the area have been affecting our health and we no longer go out for fishing,’’ he said.
Harry urged UERL to clean up the affected lands and waters in the area, according to international standard.
Contacted, the Public Affairs Officer of the company, Mr Aniefiok Iwaudofia, confirmed the incident, saying the cause of the spill was equipment failure from a ruptured flange on the tank outlet.
He, however, said that the quantity of crude spilled into the river was only about three barrels.
“It is important to note that the spill was immediately and effectively contained within the Stubb Creek well pad.
“The little that poured on the UERL acquired Right of Way (ROW) was scooped and the top soil excavated and back-filled with fresh sand,’’ he said.
Iwaudofia assured the host community that the management would continue to engage in practice and processes designed to effectively manage the hazards of its operations.

Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga (left), with Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, at the 2013 Nigeria Oil and Gas Trade and Investment Forum in Port Harcourt, last Thursday