Navy Decries Magnitude of Economic Loss to Illegal Oil Operations in Riverine Communities

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The Nigerian Navy has decried the magnitude of economic loss to acts of illegal oil bunkering and vandalism of oil pipelines along the riverine communities in Nigeria.

The Commander, of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) SOROH, Commodore Nanmar Lakan, stated this in the Okolomade community of Abua Odual Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers during a tour with journalists.
He said crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism should be stopped because of their negative economic impact on the nation.

“It is not good for our economy, and it is not also good for the citizens. I appeal to these undesirable elements to look for other means of survival.
“Stolen crude oil is causing problems everywhere. I assure them that my men and I will work day and night to ensure that this illegality stops,” he said.
He disclosed that his men uncovered a large illegal site with three tanks used as storage points in the Okolomade community.

He said the saboteurs used the tanks as storage points for illegally refined diesel.
According to him, the products will be handed over to the appropriate authority that will do further investigation to ensure that illegality stops in Nigeria.
He said under the mandate of both the Chief of Naval Staff and that of Operation Delta Safe, the NNS SOROH had continued to patrol areas within her operational responsibility.

“I want to tell Nigerians to trust us; we will ensure that this illegality stops forthwith,” he said.
The Navy arrested three persons conveying illegally refined products with tricycles along Okolomade community road.

“With what we are seeing here, we are still pleading with perpetrators to desist from it.
“I told them the last time that we are coming for them.

“I want to assure them that the long arm of the law will continue to catch up with them, so it is my candid advice for them to stop this environmental pollution,” he said.