Maritime Security: Navy Seeks Stakeholders’ Support to Boost Oil Production

Maritime Security: Navy Seeks Stakeholders’ Support to Boost Oil Production

The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, has urged stakeholders in the maritime industry to collaborate in addressing emerging security challenges and boosting oil production.

He made the call during stakeholders meeting in Abuja, today where he emphasised the need for collective efforts to tackle issues such as oil theft, pipeline vandalism, piracy and other maritime security.

He acknowledged that the development of Nigeria’s sectors over the last few decades has witnessed several complex security challenges. He said some of these include violent agitations, oil theft, pipeline vandalism, piracy/sea robbery, amongst others.

The Naval Chief revealed that its Operation Delta Sanity, launched in January 2024, has achieved significant successes in curbing oil theft, with over 35 ships arrested and handed over to prosecuting agencies.

He noted that more needs to be done to address the complex security challenges facing the maritime sector, including the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act.

Ogalla said: “We have rejigged our operations and established OP DELTA SANITY in Jan 24. This operation has achieved remarkable successes in curbing oil theft.

“The traditional means of addressing the security challenges have not yielded the desired result. This prompted the drive for greater collaboration among stakeholders in the quest for effective development of this Sector.”

He emphasized the importance of collaboration in securing the nation’s maritime domain, saying, “We need to align our discussions with strategic level policy directions.”

He expressed commitment of the Nigerian Navy support to the Federal Government’s drive to develop the nation’s Blue Economy and enhance the ease of doing business in the maritime environment.

“With the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda aiming to eradicate poverty, the Navy is working tirelessly to secure the maritime domain, ensure effective law enforcement, and increase national revenue through improved daily oil production output”, he added.

The Navy boss said under his leadership the NN has sustained her maritime security operations through surveillance, response capability and law enforcement in addition to collaboration with all maritime stakeholders.

He emphasized the need for collaboration among stakeholders to address emerging security issues in the maritime sector.

He said the meeting will be able to provide feedback to the NN operations to enable the removal of any legitimate obstacles, thereby boosting the ease of doing business for operators and enabling them to perform optimally.

“On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), Mele Kyari, represented by Executive Director, Folorunsho Kareem, applauded the Nigerian Navy for its support in protecting oil facilities in both the upstream and downstream sectors.

He stated that this support has increased crude oil production to 1.6 million barrels per day.

He added that the company targets increasing this figure to 2 million barrels per day, and with the Navy’s support, this projection can be achieved.

PRNigeria reports that the meeting brought together industry regulators, maritime law enforcement agencies, and industry players to discuss critical issues affecting maritime, energy security, boost oil production, and enhance national revenue.

By PRNigeria