Nigeria’s Navy says it is determined to fulfil President Bola Tinubu’s order to raise the country’s daily crude oil production from 1.8 million barrels to 3 million barrels by December 2025.
Speaking at the Operation Delta Sanity II flag-off event in Port Harcourt, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, the Chief of the Naval Staff, stated that the president’s command must be fulfilled.
Operation Delta Sanity has reduced pipeline vandalism, illicit bunkering, and crude oil theft since its inception, he said, emphasising that the country’s daily crude oil production has risen from 1.4 million barrels to 1.8 million barrels.
He said, “The President himself has instructed us to make sure we accomplish this task, and if you look at where we were last year when we launched this operation, we have gone from about 1.4 to 1.8.”
Plans to reach and beyond the daily output of 3 million barrels are also in the works, according to the Chief of the Naval Staff.
“I am confident that we will meet and even exceed that goal with all of the resources we are bringing on board, especially our new weapons, surveillance, attack drones, helicopters, and other resources we are bringing on board, including enhanced intelligence sharing with other agencies,” he continued.
He pledged to keep the waterways safe and praised President Bola Tinubu for his support of the Navy.
Additionally, Rear Admiral Saheed Akinwande, the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command, stated that the January-launched Operation Delta Sanity has made a substantial contribution to reducing the threat of crude oil theft.
He disclosed that at that time, 315 individuals had been taken into custody, and storage tanks and dug-out pits had been decommissioned.
Since its start, 468 unlawful refining plants have been deactivated in compliance with current standards, and 315 individuals have been apprehended overall. Additionally, 7 million litres of illegally processed AGO and an estimated 6.5 million litres of stolen crude were found and treated properly.
Additionally, 26 vessels were apprehended, and 361 wooden boats, 1107 dug-out pits, and 279 storage tanks were decommissioned.
Sen. Heineken Lokpobori, the special guest of honour who launched Operation Delta Sanity II, praised the Navy for protecting the country’s waterways and urged support for the Navy to increase the country’s daily crude oil production.
Other security organisations, such as contractors and civilian security, must assist the Navy. For the Navy and the Armed Forces to accomplish that, we also need traditional leaders, youth organisations, and the cooperation of all stakeholders,” he stated.
Among those in attendance were merchants, representatives of the Rivers State Government, leaders of security agencies, and stakeholders in the marine industry.
