Sea Guard 2024: Navy Deploys 10 Warships to Combat Oil Theft, Maritime Crimes

Sea Guard 2024: Navy Deploys 10 Warships to Combat Oil Theft, Maritime Crimes

The Nigerian Navy has deployed 10 elite warships and two helicopters for a special exercise called “Exercise Sea Guard 2024”.

The three-day exercise, scheduled from September 26 to 28, aims to secure the nation’s maritime environment and deny criminals the freedom to operate.

Rear Adm. Saheed Akinwande, the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command, disclosed this to journalists on Thursday in Onne, Rivers.

He said the Federal Government has been combating oil theft, sea robbery, sea piracy, and illegal foreign fishing for years, with several successes recorded

The officer noted that despite concerted efforts to completely curb maritime threats, they had persisted and had significantly undermined economic activities in the country.

“The consequences of this prevailing insecurity prompted the Central Naval Command (CNC) and Eastern Naval Command (ENC) to initiate a joint, coordinated, and decisive action.

“This operation, tagged: Exercise Sea Guard 2024, aimed to deny criminals and economic saboteurs the freedom of action, thereby securing our maritime environment.

“Although maritime insecurity persists on a low scale, the Nigerian Navy believes it could escalate if not deliberately addressed with a resolute stance,” he said.

Akinwande stated that 10 warships, two helicopters, Maritime Domain Awareness assets, and naval special forces drawn from the CNC and ENC would participate in the three-day exercise.

“This sea exercise, scheduled from Sept. 26 to 28, aims to secure the nation’s maritime environment through a sustained credible presence at sea for national prosperity.

“It will be used to assess the operational readiness of assigned ships in conducting evolutions such as, anti-piracy and anti-crude oil theft operations, emergency drills, and fleet manoeuvres,” he added.

He explained that the Nigerian Navy would conduct the drill within Nigeria’s territorial waters under the CNC and ENC coverage areas.

The navy officer expressed confidence that the naval expedition would directly or indirectly contribute to the much-needed economic recovery of the country.

He added that the nation’s maritime space, with its vast oil and gas reserves, aquatic resources, and the Blue Economy initiative, remained a critical avenue for national aprosperity, As such, the service is doing everything within its mandate to eliminate all forms of threats.

By PRNigeria