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From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The Nigerian Navy, yesterday, said the country’s crude oil exports rose to N1.28 million barrels per day in April from N1.23 million bpd in March.
Chief of Policy and Plans(COPP), Rear Admiral Joseph Akpan, who made the disclosure, said the arrest of several suspects and vessels used for loading stolen crude drastically reduced oil theft and increased the nation’s oil production and export.
He listed some of the arrested vessels to include MT KALI, MT SWEET HARBOUR SPIRIT, MT SAISNIL, MV TOKITO, MT VINILLARIS and MT SWEET MIRI, among others.
Admiral Akpan, at a media briefing to mark the 68th Anniversary celebrations of the Nigerian Navy, in Abuja, while noting that the navy has recorded tremendous successes in its fight against crude oil theft and maritime crime with the re-launching of its Operation Delta Sanity in January 2024, said, “under the current NN leadership, the NN has attained the highest state of operational readiness in the discharge of its constitutional roles.
He said: “In particular, the fight against crude oil theft has been a huge success under the auspices of Operation Delta Sanity, which was re-launched in January 2024.
“In the nine months of its existence, the operation has led to the arrest of various suspects and vessels involved in COT. Some of these vessels include MT KALI, MT SWEET HARBOUR SPIRIT, MT SAISNIL, MV TOKITO, MT VINILLARIS and MT SWEET MIRI, among others. This has impacted positively on Nigeria’s crude oil production.
“For instance, OPEC Records for April 2024 state that Nigeria’s Crude Oil Exports rose to #1.28m bpd in April from #1.23m bpd in March. This is in line with the President’s directive to eradicate COT to ramp up Nigeria’s oil production and exports.”
To curb insecurity ravaging some states in the south east part of the country, Admiral Akpan, said the Nigerian Navy has established an operational base in Enugu to curtail the menace.
“The NN has established a composite operations base in Enugu State to curtail the prevailing insecurities in the SE and NC regions.”
To boost the operational efficiency of the Navy, he said the service had taken delivery of new platforms, including two helicopters and was expecting the delivery of another before the end of the year.
“In terms of fleet renewal, the NN has taken delivery of various platforms which have supported its anti-piracy, anti-COT, anti-IUU and anti-illegal drug trafficking, among others. Notably, the NN has taken delivery of its second offshore survey vessel, two 32m FPBs, and two helicopters. The NN is also expected to take delivery of two 76m OPVs from Turkey later in the year.”
Speaking on the activities lined up for the 68th anniversary celebrations, Akpan said Special Juma’at Prayers will be held on Friday, May 24, 2024, followed by an Interdenominational Church Service on Sunday, May 26. He also said that Medical Rhapsodies and Naval Officers’ Wives Association activities will be held simultaneously on May 27 2024 in some NN host communities across Commands.
“The highpoint of this year’s celebration will be the flag-off of the Regional Maritime Exercise and the International Maritime Conference by the President Bola Tinubu, who will be the Special Guest of Honour. The event, which is scheduled to hold from May 30 to June 1 2024, is an international maritime sea exercise involving navies from Africa, Europe, Asia, and North and South America. The NN will contribute 18 platforms, comprising capital ships, boats and helicopters,” he added.
He listed some foreign naval ships participating in the maritime exercise to include Brazilian Navy Ship APA, Cameroonian Navy Ship DIPIKAR, People’s Liberation Army Navy Ship XU CHANG, French Navy Ship OSV COMMANDANT BIROT, Ghana Navy Ship CHEMLE, United States Ship HERSHEL WOODY WILLIAMS, among others.
He added that the newly established International Maritime Institute of Nigeria would be inaugurated on June 1 at the NNS QUORRA Apapa, in Lagos.
