Nigerian Navy Launches Operation Water Guard to Check Smuggling in Badagry
The Nigerian Navy on Thursday inaugurated Operation Water Guard in Badagry, Lagos, to checkmate smuggling of petroleum products and other contraband in the area.
Speaking during the ceremony, Rear Admiral Mustapha Hassan, the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command Operation, said the operation would check activities of economic saboteurs.
According to him, Badagry is a place of great historical significance in our nation, but has, unfortunately, gained notoriety for being a hotspot of smuggling activities.
“The smuggling of refined petroleum products, narcotics, and foreign-parboiled rice across Nigeria-Benin is not only a challenge, it has constituted economic sabotage and threatened the security and prosperity of the nation.
“It is the solemn duty of the Nigeria Navy to address this issue head-on.
“Operation Water Guard is an intiative that embodies our commitment to put an end to these unlawful activities.
“We are resolute in our mission to make the Nigerian waters and borders unattainable for maritime criminals and smugglers alike.
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“Nigerian Navy under the leadership of Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral E.I. Ogalla is in support of the Federal Government’s policy to make sure that petroleum products in Nigeria are meant for Nigerians.
“That is why in order to support the operations of the FOB Badagry, this particular operation was activated to secure the coastal community.
“The operation will be sustained to ensure Nigerians have a wonderful yuletide season and beyond, and also improve the economic prosperity of our nation,” Oguntuga said.
He said the operation was being sustained with many boats that would patrol the waterways and ships at sea, as well as using helicopters and drones.
In his remarks, Navy Capt. Adams- Aliu, the Commanding Officer, FOB, Badagry, said the command had seized over N81m worth of illegal goods between March 2023 till date.
According to him, these include refined petroleum products being taken out of the country, foreign rice, drugs and cannabis sativa.
“Some of these arrests were made at Sea, others are during the cordon and search operations within the community,” he said.
By PRNigeria
