The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla has extended Operation DELTA SANITY for another 90 days.
A statement by Commodore Adams-Allui Director Naval Information said CNS extends the operation on Thursday when he visited the Nigerian Navy Ship PATHFINDER in Port Harcourt.
Vice Admiral Ogalla launched Operation DELTA SANITY on January 6, 2024, to combat Crude Oil Theft. This was in line with the President and Commander-in-Chief’s directive to eradicate crude oil theft and ramp up Nigeria’s production for an improved economy.
Operation DELTA SANITY was conceptualised as a major anti-crude oil theft operation, the Nigerian Navy personnel, platforms, helicopters and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles were deployed on aggressive surveillance and interdiction operations across the Niger Delta area.
Additionally, commands, units and bases were directed to conduct both Kinetic and non-Kinetic operations to stem the tide of maritime criminalities. The operation has denied oil thieves and vandals across various parts of the Niger Delta, freedom of action.
From Bayelsa to Ondo to Rivers to Akwa Ibom States, and beyond, with the recovery of massive quantities of stolen products, the dismantling of Illegal Refining Sites, arrest of suspects, seizure of stolen products has underscored the resolve of the Nigerian Navy to stamp out crude oil theft.
Cumulatively, Operation DELTA SANITY has recorded successes as follows: Recovery of large quantities of stolen crude oil and refined products.
It operation in the last four months has led to seizure of 95 Wooden Boats, deactivated 119 storage tanks and Refining Ovens, deactivated 447 dugout pits , deactivated 120 Illegal refining sites, seized 13 fibre boats, seized 9 Vehicles, arrested 74 oil bunkering suspects and arrested 14 Vessels.
The CNS thanked the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his unwavering support to the Armed Forces in general and the Nigerian Navy in particular.
He also commended all the officers and men of the Nigerian Navy who daily sacrifice every form of physical comfort to fulfil the mandate of Operation DELTA SANITY