How Vice Admiral Ogalla is Championing an Effective Defence of Nigeria’s Maritime Space against Threats 

The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ikechukwu Emmanuel Ogalla, recently embarked on a tour of Rivers State where he criss crossed from Port Harcourt to Ebubu-Eleme to Onne, with the tripartite aim of combatting crude oil theft through Operation DELTA SANITY; assessing platforms and ongoing projects at Naval Shipyard; and lastly, boosting manpower with visits to Naval platforms at FOT Jetty. Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that these measures are in tandem with his vision and mission for a highly motivated professional naval force capable of effective defence of Nigeria’s maritime space against all forms of threats

In line with his vision for “A highly motivated professional naval force capable of shaping the security outcomes within Nigeria’s maritime domain and the littorals including land-based engagements in fulfilment of Nigeria’s national interest”, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ikechukwu Emmanuel Ogalla, just last week embarked on a tour of the Nigerian Navy’s (NN) Areas of Responsibility in Port Harcourt, which is under the Eastern Naval Command (ENC). 

This is also in furtherance of his mission to “Maintain and equip a professionally competent and ethical naval force while leveraging on all element of national power for the effective defence of Nigeria’s maritime area of interest against all form of threat in fulfilment of national security imperatives”. 

Buoyed by these vision and mission statement, the CNS last week took measures to champion a professionally motivated force targeted at effective defence of Nigeria’s maritime area of interest by embarking on a visit to Rivers State where he criss crossed from Port Harcourt to Ebubu Eleme to Onne and back comprising the Tripartite of combatting crude oil theft, assessing platforms and ongoing projects and lastly, boosting manpower. 

The three-day tour began last week Thursday with a visit to Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER where the CNS and his entourage received a brief by the Commander NNS PATHFINDER, Commodore Igbo. 

This was followed by an objective assessment of OP DELTA SANITY by Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command (CNC), and an interactive session by all senior officers present. 

The CNS and team afterwards moved to the Rivers State Government House (RSGH) where they were received by Governor Sim Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Oduh. Afterwards, it was onward movement to Naval Shipyard Limited (NSL) to inspect ongoing projects before they went to the FOT Jetty to assess naval platforms berthed there including NNS OKPABANA and KYANWA, amongst several others. 

In no particular order, the CNS team were Admiral Superintendent, Naval Dockyard Limited, Rear Admiral Abolaji Orederu; Rear Admiral Patrick Effah; NHQ (CIT) – CCI, Rear Admiral ZS Muhammad; Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Saheed Akinwande; Rear Admiral Samson Burra; Chief of Training and Operations, Rear Admiral Olusegun Ferreira; and Rear Admiral HUF Kaoje. 

Others include the Naval Secretary (NAVSEC), Rear Admiral PC Nwatu; Chief of Naval Engineering (CONE), Rear Admiral Kohath Levi; NHQ (LOG) – COL, Rear Admiral OK Oluwagbire; Rear Admiral AJ Oyegade; Managing Director/CEO of Naval Engineering Services Ltd, Rear Admiral B Iyalla; and Rear Admiral Damtong, Admiral Superintendent Naval Shipyard Port Harcourt.

Not left out were OPDS Commander, Rear Admiral JU Okeke; Commander NNS PATHFINDER, Commodore Desmond Igbo; Director of Naval Information (DINFO), Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu and a host of other senior officers. 

Combatting COT: Assessment and Extension of Operation DELTA SANITY

As the 24th CNS, one of the goals Vice Admiral Ogalla set was to resolutely confront the menace of Crude Oil Theft (COT). To achieve this, he activated OPERATION DELTA SANITY on Wednesday, January 10, 2024 to curb the activities of criminal elements in the country’s maritime environment.

This quick interdiction operation to nab nefarious elements bent of stealing crude oil was with a clear mandate to tackle COT, Illegal oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism and a host of other criminalities on the nation’s maritime area. 

The operation is a comprehensive anti-theft effort involving the deployment of NN personnel, platforms, helicopters, and UAVs for active surveillance and interdiction operations throughout the Niger Delta and they include both kinetic and non-kinetic measures. 

But it was during his visit to PH last week that the CNS announced the extension of the operation for an additional 90 days. This, he said was as a result of the remarkable success since its inception across various states including Bayelsa, Ondo, Rivers, Akwa Ibom States and beyond, with the recovery of massive quantities of stolen products, the dismantling of Illegal Refining Sites, arrest of suspects, and seizure of stolen products.

According to him, the operation has  significantly disrupted oil thieves and vandals, leading to the recovery of substantial amounts of stolen products and the dismantling of illegal refining sites. 

He said with the extension of OPERATION DELTA SANITY, there is renewed optimism for a significant reduction in economic sabotage in the Niger Delta, signalling a promising step towards a more secure maritime environment in Nigeria.

While appreciating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his steadfast support to the Armed Forces and the Nigerian Navy in particular, he also commended the dedication of all NN officers and personnel involved in the operation, adding that presently, there is renewed optimism that the Niger Delta will be free of economic saboteurs. 

Cumulatively, in three months, Operation DELTA SANITY has recorded 95 seized wooden boats, 119 de-activated storage tanks refining ovens, 447 deactivated dugout pits, 120 deactivated Illegal Refining Sites, 13 seized fibre boats, nine seized vehicles, 74 arrested suspects, and 14 arrested vessels including MT KALI, MT HARBOUR SPIRIT, MT SAISNIL, MV TOKITO, MT VINILLARIS and MT SWEET MIRI, among others.

The CNS added that another notable success of the operation is the significant improvement in air quality within the general environment. “Recall that around 2018 – 2022 the sooth in some Niger-Delta communities was alarming. This was documented by various organisation and media. However, the remarkable is now being acknowledged.

“These successes have come at a huge cost to the Nigerian Navy, in terms of men and material. In particular, some of our men died at NNS SOROH and at NNSAT KACHIA while discharging their duties. Their memory will not be forgotten and their lives will not be in vain.”

Governor Fubara’s Commendation to the Navy 

Meanwhile, during the courtesy visit to the government house, Governor Fubara commended the NN for the achievements recorded through Operation DELTA SANITY. 

He said the good news of reduced level oil theft in the state was evidence of the work put in by NN with tremendous support from his administration, adding that the support from his government would continue because the goal is to discourage any act that would be a sabotage to the economy of the state. 

Inspection of Ongoing Projects at Naval Shipyard Port Harcourt

That same Thursday, the CNS and team paid a visit to the Naval Shipyard Limited in Port Harcourt, Rivers State to inspect the progress of the numerous projects that are ongoing.

Received by the Rear Admiral Damtong, Admiral Superintendent Naval Shipyard Port Harcourt, the visit of the CNS was in tandem with his mission to “Maintain and equip a professionally competent and ethical naval force….”

During the tour, achievements and challenges encountered in the course of constructing the vessels were laid bare for the CNS to assess and take necessary action. From small boats to big vessels, the Naval Shipyard Limited was a beehive of activity and it was quite surprising at the level of construction and fabrication going on by the Nigerian Navy- the goal being to look inwards in producing exactly what they need in patrolling the litorrals and backwaters, inadvertently curbing capital flight and fighting maritime crimes at the same time. 

Operational Visit to FOT/FLT Jetty 

As part of his itinerary, Vice Admiral Ogalla, also visited the FOT/FLT Jetty Onne for an on-the-spot assessment of NN Ships berthed at the jetty. According to the DINFO, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, the visit was aimed at assessing the operational readiness of some of the vessels and discuss ways to ensure vessels needing urgent repairs be done in good timing.

He said: “Ships visited include NNS OKPABANA, NNS KYANWA amongst others. However, notable in the operational visit was the CNS photo session with Midshipmen of 71RC.”

For the team that were in Rivers State for three days, the tour was fruitful as it laid bare beyond paper, the places they should act more on and the gains that can be sustained to ensure that the clamoured for highly motivated professional naval force capable of protecting Nigeria’s maritime domain and the littorals including land-based engagements, was achieved. 

Quotes

Cumulatively, in three months, Operation DELTA SANITY has recorded 95 seized wooden boats, 119 de-activated storage tanks refining ovens, 447 deactivated dugout pits, 120 deactivated Illegal Refining Sites, 13 seized fibre boats, nine seized vehicles, 74 arrested suspects, and 14 arrested vessels

From small boats to big vessels, the Naval Shipyard Limited was a beehive of activity and it was quite surprising at the level of construction and fabrication going on by the Nigerian Navy- the goal being to look inwards in producing exactly what they need in patrolling the litorrals and backwaters, inadvertently curbing capital flight and fighting maritime crimes at the same time