Category: Maritime Sector

The Nigerian Navy has confirmed the product of Motor Tanker PRAISEL as High Pour Fuel Oil and not stolen crude oil as alleged.
 
It would be recalled that Naval Headquarters issued a Press Release on 4 August 2023 to clarify an allegation in respect of Motor Tanker (MT) PRAISEL which was reported to be conveying stolen crude oil with naval escorts onboard.
 
According to the statement, the vessel was reported to have been arrested by a private security outfit, Tantita Security Service Limited (TSSL) and an element of Operation DELTA SAFE (OPDS).
 
A statement subsequently released by the Nigerian Navy and signed by Commodore A.O Ayo-Vaughan, Director of Information stated that clarification of the report became necessary to put the record straight and avoid the misrepresentation of facts particularly the consignment/cargo of the vessel as at the time of interception by TSSL.  
 
“As mentioned, MT PRAISEL was duly approved by Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to load 1,114,721 Litres of High Pour Fuel Oil (HPFO) from Greenmac Energy Storage/Tarus Jetty Koko from 26 July – 8 August 2023.
 
“This has repeatedly been substantiated by NMDPRA. However, due to the allegation and suspicion of the vessel’s product to be stolen crude oil, samples of the product were collected on Thursday and Friday 3 & 4 August 2023
by relevant agencies in line with laid procedures for laboratory analysis and verification of the claim.
 
“As of Saturday 5 August 2023, the results of the laboratory analysis of the product onboard MT PRAISEL by all agencies including NMDPRA indicate that the product displayed properties consistent with Nigerian industrial standard specification for HPFO.  
 
“This result therefore proves that the allegation and suspicion was totally wrong, unfounded, and perhaps mischievous. The intelligence which was said to have been received in respect of the vessel and its product is equally wrong.
 
“This singular incident brings to the fore the high-handedness and unprofessional conduct displayed, with its attendant negative consequences for the supplier and buyer of the product, the vessel hired to convey it and other parties involved in the legitimate business.
 
“Accordingly, the Nigerian Navy reiterates her strong stance to support every single effort to halt economic saboteurs and to fight against crude oil theft in Nigeria’s maritime environment (NME) provided such effort is done within the ambit of the law and with the best professional conduct.
 
“Proper precaution therefore must be adhered to by all stakeholders to avoid unnecessary impediment to legitimate commercial activities and businesses in the maritime environment.
 
“Maritime security issues entails more than spontaneous actions from insufficient and unverified information because the resultant wrong responses have direct impact on the nation’s economy hence it must be handled dispassionately and professionally.
 
“In line with Mr President’s directive, the Navy under the able leadership of Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla will ensure transparent and robust inter-Service and inter-agency cooperation and synergy in all her operations.
 
“All stakeholders and players within the NME are thus advised to adopt the same posture in the overall interest of the nation,” it read.

The Nigerian Army (NA) has assured that it will continue to work and synergize with sister services and other security agencies with a view to maintaining peace and security within the 81 Division Area of Responsibility.

A statement signed by Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni, Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations, the pledge was made by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division NA, Major General Muhammed Usman 

Major General Muhammed Usman made the pledge when the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Muhammad Abdullahi paid a courtesy visit to Headquarters 81 Division NA.

The GOC described the already existing relationship between the NA and the Nigerian Navy (NN) as very cordial, reaffirming the Division’s commitment to maintain and further boost this relationship for national interest.

The GOC explained that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen TA Lagbaja has continued to encourage officers and soldiers of the NA to always remain professional during joint operations, acknowledging that the NA has maintained the status quo by maintaining and further boosting the already existing cordial relationship with members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies.

General Usman emphasized the need for the two services to constantly communicate for better understanding.

Earlier, the FOC, Rear Admiral Abdullahi said that the aim of his visit was to familiarize himself with officers and soldiers of the Division, having assumed Command as the 43rd FOC Western Naval Command, Lagos.

The FOC reiterated the need for jointness for the successful conduct of all operations in the Armed Forces of Nigeria, adding that “no service can do it all alone.”

He also congratulated the GOC on his recent appointment as the 24th GOC of 81 Division NA, wishing him a successful tenure.

Highlights of the visit include the exchange of souvenirs, the signing of the Visitor’s book, and group photographs.

The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, has strongly berated the escalating threat posed by cyber attacks to the military establishment.

The CNS who was represented by the Chief Staff Officer, Naval Training Command, Rear Admiral Dan Atakpa articulated this concern during the culmination ceremony of the Nigerian Navy’s third Inter- Command Communication and Cyberdrills Competition 2023, held at NNS Quorra and Beecroft. This event spanned from July 31st to August 4th.

The CNS commended the significance of the competition, characterizing it as a pivotal platform for honing and enhancing the cyber security preparedness of the military.

He emphasized the importance of fortifying the military against cyber threats, particularly in leveraging cyberspace for both operational and administrative purposes within the Nigerian Navy.

Expanding on his remarks, he highlighted that the competition effectively demonstrated the participants’ capabilities and dedication to safeguarding the military’s critical data and systems.

This, in turn, contributes to the augmentation of individual skill sets, further solidifying the military’s resilience against cyber attacks.

According to him, “I am particularly pleased with the events that took place during this period especially the introduction of cyberdrills and the hackathon. As you all know, cyber-attacks are growing threats to our military. In recent years, we have seen a number of high-profile cyber-attacks against organizations both military and civil.

“This competition has given us the opportunity to drill ourselves and improve our cyber security posture and to make our military more resilient to cyber-attacks especially in the use of the cyberspace for operations and administration in the Nigerian Navy. We have talented teams of cybersecurity professionals as was demonstrated during the hackathon exercise. This further shows our capacity and commitment to protecting our military’s data and systems by enhancing our individual skills.

“As we are aware, Communication is a critical and pivotal element in modern warfare and administration, be it on land, sea, air, space or cyber space. Effective and secure communication links have always been a fundamental requirement for navies, which modern fleets rely heavily on radio and satellite technologies. The increasing build-up of the network-centric environment in the military and capable networks for voice as well as data-transmissions is becoming even more important in military operations.

He congratulated all participants and winning teams for their outstanding effort in the competition and encourage all participants to never relax their oars and take advantage of what was learnt.

In his address, Rear Admiral Olusanya Abiodun Bankole, who serves as both the convener of the competition and the Chief of Communication and Information Technology, highlighted that the event would contribute to bolstering the Navy’s strength and resilience.

He also emphasized its role in motivating officers to persist in their pursuit of training and personal growth.

“By testing our forces in these areas, we can identify any weaknesses and take steps to address them. I am confident that the lessons learned from this competition will make our forces stronger and more resilient.

“I want to encourage all the participants to continue training and developing themselves in these areas and also putting everything we have learnt into practice and especially to be more confident in the Nigerian Navy’s future.

I also want to encourage Commands to continue this trend by conducting Inter-Command competition to prepare their men suitable for this competition,” he said.

In a recent development, the Nigerian Navy has moved swiftly to address and clarify the incident surrounding the apprehension of the Motor Tanker (MT) Praisel on allegations of crude oil theft.

The matter gained attention due to media reports and publications detailing the vessel’s arrest by the private security entity, Tantita Security Service Limited (TSSL), over suspicions of illegal oil bunkering.

The reports suggested that the vessel had been escorted by a Nigerian Navy boat and hinted at the involvement of high-ranking officials.

To set the record straight and prevent the spread of misinformation, the Nigerian Navy has provided comprehensive insights into the situation. It has been confirmed that MT Praisel had received proper approval from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to load 1,114,721 liters of High Pour Fuel Oil (HPFO) from Greenmac Energy Storage/Tarus Jetty Koko. This approval was valid from July 26 to August 8, 2023, and has been substantiated by the NMDPRA.

In alignment with established Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and to ensure strict adherence to the NMDPRA’s authorization, Nigerian Navy personnel were stationed onboard to monitor the unloading of the product at a designated facility in Bonny.

However, on August 2, 2023, Tantita Security Service Limited (TSSL), acting on intelligence, alleged that MT Praisel was carrying stolen crude oil. Consequently, they engaged an element of Operation DELTA SAFE to board the vessel and verify the alleged stolen cargo. Responding promptly, the Nigerian Navy directed the vessel to the Forward Operating Base ESCRAVOS anchorage for a comprehensive investigation of the cargo onboard.

As of August 3, 2023, samples of the product from MT Praisel have been collected by five different agencies, including NNPCL, NMDPRA, and TSSL. These samples will undergo rigorous laboratory testing and verification procedures, following established protocols.

Undoubtedly committed to combating maritime crimes, the Nigerian Navy reiterated its strong support for all efforts aimed at curbing economic sabotage within the nation.

While acknowledging the importance of collective action against crude oil theft, the Navy stressed the significance of adhering to necessary precautions by all stakeholders. It emphasized that such precautions are vital to prevent any unwarranted disruptions to legitimate commercial activities and businesses within the maritime sector, which have significant implications for the nation’s economy.

In light of this, the Nigerian Navy called on the public to await the results of the laboratory tests and to respect the ongoing in-depth investigations into the allegations.

Under the leadership of Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, the Navy is firmly committed to promoting transparency, fostering interagency cooperation, and enhancing synergy in the ongoing battle against illegalities and criminal activities within Nigeria’s maritime environment, particularly focusing on combating oil theft.