Nigerian Navy Recovered N71bn Stolen Crude in Two Years, Gambo Reveals

Chiemelie Ezeobi 

The Nigerian Navy yesterday disclosed that it had recovered stolen crude oil valued over N71 billion within the space of 24 months.

The navy further revealed that its operations within Nigeria’s area of maritime interests led to the tracking and interception of over 15,000 vessels within the timeframe.

The immediate past Chief of this Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo made the disclosure at a valedictory parade organised in his honour to mark his formal retirement from the Nigerian Navy yesterday.

Under his leadership, Gambo revealed that the navy recovered and seized 728,000 barrels of crude oil, 44.5 million litres of illegally refined diesel, 2.46 million litres of kerosene amounting to more than N71billion. 

He further pointed out how MT HEROIC IDUN, which attempted to load crude oil in Bonny without authorisation, was impounded.

He recounted some of his achievements during his tenure as the 21st Chief of the Naval Staff, noting that the navy’s surveillance capability led to a reduction in maritime crime within the nation’s waters.

He said the feats were made possible by the deployment of maritime security technology that allowed real time monitoring of the country’s maritime environment.

Gambo said his administration’s investment in surveillance equipment enabled the various commands to maximise the utilisation of personnel and vessels, thus reducing the deployment of capital ships and by so doing saving costs.

He said during his tenure, about 10 pirates were arrested for different infractions in the nation’s waterways and were for the first time sentenced to 12 years imprisonment in July 2022.

He said this was achieved through the enactment of the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Act, 2019.

He said the gamut of activities in the last two years further significantly reduced piracy within the Nigerian Maritime domain and the Gulf of Guinea, which was corroborated by the Defence Web.

“These eventually culminated in the exiting of Nigeria from the list of piracy prone countries as conveyed in the International Maritime Bureau Report of March 3, 2022.

“Under my watch, the Nigerian Navy commenced the first indigenous systematic survey of the Nigerian coastal and offshore waters, using state of the art survey equipment onboard Nigerian Navy Ship LANA, an hydrographic Ship acquired in 2022.

“This marked the systematic survey of Nigeria’s maritime environment. This will position Nigeria on the right part towards improved economic growth, national security and development,” Gambo revealed.