CNS flags-off Operation Delta Sanity to tackle oil theft

The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, on Wednesday in Warri, Delta State, flagged off ‘Operation Delta Sanity’ in a renewed effort by the Federal Government “to end the menace of crude oil theft, illegal oil bunkering and other forms of insecurity within Nigeria’s maritime environment.”

The flag-off, which took place on board NNS Ikenne at the new Nigeria Ports Authority Jetty, Warri, had in attendance the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Oil, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri; the governor of Delta State, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Kingsley Emu; leaders of various security agencies in the Niger Delta region, as well as other maritime stakeholders, including the NNPCL and Oil Producers Trading Section.

Addressing the gathering, Ogalla noted that the newly launched ‘Operation Delta Sanity’ will replace ‘Operation Dakatar Da Barawo,’ which had been in effect in the Niger Delta since April 2022.

Lauding the positive impact of ‘OPDB,’ under which, he said several arrests of illegal vessels, as well as crude oil and refined products thefts were recorded, the CNS informed that N105 billion worth of crude oil and illegally refined petroleum products were seized during that operation.

He said, “As a result of OPDB, as at September 2023, Nigeria’s crude oil output rose to 1.35 million barrels per day, from about one million barrels per day, peaking at 1.57 million barrels per day in October 2023. This is indicative of the impact of OPDB.”

He, however, disclosed that the launching of ‘Operation Delta Sanity’ had become imperative to further protect the Niger Delta environment.

He added, “In addition to the Nigerian Navy’s conventional assets, there is the need to ensure greater integration of Maritime Domain Awareness facilities and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in order to enhance situational awareness of the area of operations.