Niger Delta
Navy Launches New Strategy To Combat Oil Theft
The Nigerian Navy has lunched “OPERATION DELTA SANITY” to further combat crude oil theft and other criminalities in the nation’s maritime space.
The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla, flagged-off the Operation on Wednesday at the NPA Jetty, Warri, Delta State.
The Tide’s source reports that “Operation DELTA SANITY” replaces Operation DAKATAR DA BARAWO.
In his remark, the CNS said Operation Delta Sanity was timely, considering the renewed effort of the Federal Government toward attaining sustainable development of Blue Economy.
He said Operation DAKATAR DA BARAWO was launched in April 2022 to stern the tide of crude oil theft.
Ogalla said the menace of crude oil theft and illegal bunkering had constituted a substantial threat to the nation’s economic prosperity.
“As at December 2021, Nigeria’s crude oil production had fallen from 1.579 million barrels in 2020 to 1.197 million barrels.
“This loss was attributed to pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft and operation of Illegal Refining Sites (IRS).
“Accordingly, no effort should be spared in combatting oil theft which constitutes a grave national security threat”, he said.
The naval chief continued that it was on this premise that the Operation DAKATAR DA BARAWO was launched.
He said during the operation, the Navy engaged in kinetic and non-kinetic initiatives across the Niger Delta.
The Naval chief said this led to arrest of several vessels and crude oil and refined products.
“These include the landmark arrest of MT HEROIC IDUN in Aug. 22, which prevented the theft of about three million barrels of crude oil.
“A total value of over N105 billion worth of crude oil and illegally refined petroleum products were seized during the operation.
“As a result of the Operation DAKATAR DA BARAWO, as at September 2023, Nigeria’s crude oil output rose to 1.35 million barrels per day, from about 1 million barrels per day.
“It peaked at 1.57 million barrels per day in October 2023. It is my singular honour and privilege to terminate Operation DAKATAR DA BARAWO and Flag-off Operation DELTA SANITY.
“I wish all the officers and ratings of participating units fair winds and following seas”, he said.
The CNS said the Blue Economy initiative of President Bola Tinubu sought to maximise the Nation’s potential by deriving optimal benefits from Nigerian Maritime Environment for economic prosperity.
He said the initiative beholds on the Navy to rejig the ongoing anti-crude oil theft, anti-illegal bunkering and related operations.
Ogalla said the Navy conducts its military, policing and diplomatic roles in line with its constitutional mandate.
He said the Navy policing role encompassed enforcing and assisting in coordinating the enforcement of anti-bunkering laws of Nigeria.
The naval chief stressed the need to ensure greater integration of Maritime Domain Awareness facilities, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to enhance situational awareness of the Area of Operations.
He said renewed strategy on environmentally sustainable handling of seized products, and arrested vessels had been reconstituted under Operation DELTA SANITY.
“The operation will incorporate complimentary kinetic and non-kinetic measures to consolidate the successes of the Operation DAKATAR DA BARAWO in the Niger Delta area”, he said.
He charged all participating commands, units and establishments to strive towards realising the desired operational objectives of Operation DELTA SANITY.
“I seek the support of concerned Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as maritime stakeholders to ensure the success of this Operation.
“I believe that all hands will be on deck towards achieving the desired objectives of this Operation.
“This would foster the much-desired economic recovery and development of our great nation”, he said.
The naval chief thanked Tinubu for his continuous support to the Nigerian Navy.
Also speaking, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State thanked the Navy for the new initiative and promised to offer support.
Oborevwori was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Kingsley Emu.
In a remark, Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) thanked the Navy for ridding Nigeria’s maritime environment of crimes.
He said the Navy made giant strides in its maritime policing efforts in line with its constitutional mandate, especially through prevention of oil theft and others.
Hr urged all participating units and formations to vigorously, and sincerely pursue the desired operational objectives of Operation DELTA SANITY.
“I equally solicit the support of all stakeholders and partners to the Navy so that we can derive optimal benefits from this noble initiative”, he said.
The CNS also inaugurated a building project at the premises of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta.
In attendance were Rear Adm. Olusegun Ferreira, Commander, Joint TaskForce (JTF), Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), Minister of Defence, Bello Matawalle represented by Director of Navy, Dr Raji Ogunsola, Commander, NNS Delta, Commodore Chindo Yahaya.
Others are Mr Austin Oruoye, member representing Warri South Constituency, representatives of other military and para-military among others.
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) and an agency of the World Health Organisation(WHO), the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) have launched a three-year public health study, to investigate the health impacts of hydrocarbon pollution in Ogoniland in Rivers State.
Speaking at the kick-off meeting with IARC team at the Project Coordination Office in Port Harcourt, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, noted that the initiative is in line with the key recommendations of the 2011 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report on Ogoniland, which highlighted the need for a long-term, focused medical study to track health impacts across the Ogoni population.
He said the study is aimed at conducting a comprehensive health risk assessment linked to hydrocarbon pollution; build capacity for local health professionals; and provide clear recommendations for public health responses based on the findings at the end of the day.
According to him, community involvement is a cornerstone of the project.
“Community leaders, civil society groups, and health institutions must be brought into this process from the onset to ensure trust, ownership, and relevance,” he intoned.
He further indicated that the project would prioritise transparency, continuous stakeholder engagement, and ethical compliance throughout the study.
“HYPREP will provide necessary technical, logistical, and institutional support to facilitate smooth project implementation. The project schedule will be jointly reviewed and finalised, and a steering and technical coordination team will be established to oversee the study.The study is expected to drive policy interventions, public health planning, and long-term monitoring of the Ogoni population’s wellbeing. The outcomes of the project will be credible, actionable, and globally recognised, thanks to IARC’s international expertise and scientific rigor,” he said.
The Project Coordinator said the project is expected to bring healing, hope, and progress to Ogoniland and beyond.
“In addition to the public health study, HYPREP is constructing the Ogoni Specialist Hospital, which will feature state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment, including cutting-edge MRI machines. This facility will significantly improve healthcare services in the region,” he said.
Also, IARC leader of the team, Dr. Joachim Schuz, in an interview after the meeting, noted that the study aims to provide concrete evidence of the impact of environmental pollution on the health of the people.
“We do not want to be speculating, we need to show it, we need to prove what is going on beneath,” he emphasised.
He explained that the study would collect blood samples from approximately 4,000 people to measure the levels of hydrocarbon exposure and assess the damage already caused.
He noted that they would also gather information on the living conditions of the people, including their exposure to pollutants and other health risks.
He ,however, urged the people of Ogoniland to participate in the study, which is expected to provide valuable information for public health planning and disease prevention.
Schuz further noted that the study is an investment in the health of the people, stressing that it would provide critical information for developing effective public health programmes.
“Without this study, we do not have the information to do a proper planning for good public health planning for the benefit of the people in the long run,” he said.
A member of the team, Mr Mike Cowing said samples would be taken from areas where groundwater and crops are contaminated with hydrocarbons.
According to information pierced together, the study will include men, women, and children, and will aim to capture the different ways in which hydrocarbon pollution affects various segments of the Ogoni population.
Another member of the medical team, Ann Olsson noted that children can be affected differently from adults due to their smaller body size and higher exposure levels.
She said the team is working to ensure that the study is a representative of the entire Ogoni population, with a focus on finding solutions to sample representatives from the four local government areas.
As part of efforts in ensuring that the people of Ogoni get the right water quality, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project(HYPREP) has organised a training programme for laboratory technicians working in all its water stations in Ogoniland.
At the training held in Port Harcourt, HYPREP’s Director of Technical Services, Prof Damian-Paul Aguiyi, who explained the essence of the training programme said it would ensure that laboratory attendants strictly observe standard protocol for water quality test before reticulation.
He noted that the training would sharpen their skills for better performance in the supply of quality water to the Ogoni people.
“The essence of this training workshop I want to emphasise is for us to be sure that the people who operate the treatment plants in our water facilities know what to do and do the right thing all the time.So, we are taking extra pain to train you on laboratory practices that you will subject the water you give our people to, and our expectation is that you will need to understand this and when you do, make sure we are giving our people quality water.We want to be sure that while you are doing your work, you ensure that the quality of water we give our people meets international standards, meets WHO drinking water standards, and so, we feel that a key component of it is the laboratory management where you will taste the water before and after dosage; and that would guide what you dose and the quality.Make sure that our people get the right quality water to drink and in doing so, ensure that they are healthy because if you drink clean good quality water, you are most likely not to be exposed to water borne diseases, and so, we want you to pay attention,” he said.
The Director of Technical Services reaffirmed HYPREP’s commitment to providing potable water that meets best standards, saying the Project is optimistic that the training would benefit the participants, and urged them to apply the knowledge garnered for the good of Ogoni communities.
On his part, HYPREP’s Head of Potable Water, Mr Lucky Ikue, while echoing the views of the Director of Technical Services, harped on the need for standardisation in the quality of water supply in Ogoniland.
As it were, participants were guided on water sampling techniques, analysis and use of laboratory equipment, affording them the opportunity to upscale their skills in the collection and test of water samples; perform physical, chemical and microbiological tests, and understand the result, to improve technical capacity, develop and maintain practice in laboratory analysis.
The trainees equally explored physiochemical parameters such as chloride, total hardness, alkalinity, nitrate, sulphate and phosphate, microbial hydrocarbon and heavy metal analysis.
HYPREP is gearing up for the next round of its water projects commissioning. This month, four water stations would be commissioned in Uegwere-Boue and Taabaa communities in Khana Local Government Area, Bodo community in Gokana Local Government Area, and Eteo community in Eleme Local Government Area. This is even as the Project continues in actualising its target of providing more potable water to more Ogoni communities by the end of the year.
