Maritime Crimes: CNS Ogalla Reads Riot Act to Naval Personnel
The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS),
Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, has cautioned officers and ratings in the Nigerian Navy against colluding with criminals to perpetrate oil theft and other maritime crimes.
Ogalla spoke during the decoration of 29 newly promoted senior officers to the rank of Rear Admiral, in Abuja, on Wednesday.
Ogalla utilized the platform to emphasize the zero-tolerance stance of the Navy towards any form of collaboration with criminal elements operating within the maritime domain.
He said the Year 2023 had its high and lows for the nation, requiring the armed forces to play significant roles to ensure security and prosperity of Nigeria.
He noted that service and the nation required them to be more dedicated and to display unalloyed loyalty to the President and the Constitution in addressing the myriad of security challenges confronting the country.
“Your ingenuity, resourcefulness and integrity will be required to reposition the Service in the years ahead.
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“The Nigerian Navy in collaboration with other security agencies have continuously strived to protect the economic mainstay of the country through various operations to counter oil theft.
“While there are significant achievements, there are still cases of personnel colluding with criminals to undermine our efforts.
“Let me, therefore, warn that any form of collusion with criminals or act of sabotage will be met with stiff sanctions in accordance with the law.
“In essence, as leaders of the Service, you are expected to be above board and ensure that your subordinates key into the zero-tolerance stance of the Nigerian navy to all forms of illegalities and criminalities at sea or ashore, particularly oil theft,” he said.
Ogalla said the decoration ceremony resonated deeply with the Nigerian navy, as it provided a special opportunity to acknowledge the enormous support availed the service by Federal Government.
He said that such encouragement had bolstered gains in critical areas like fleet renewal, infrastructural and manpower developments, which according to him, had impacted positively on the nation’s maritime security.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for his unrelenting support for enabled the service to deliver a safe, secure and stable maritime environment for Nigeria’s prosperity.
By PRNigeria
