On Thursday, 25 April 2024, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, the Chief of Naval Staff, announced the extension of Operation DELTA SANITY for an additional 90 days. The announcement was made at the Nigerian Navy Ship PATHFINDER in Port Harcourt.
Operation DELTA SANITY, initially launched on 6 January 2024, is a robust anti-crude oil theft initiative aligned with the directive from the President and Commander-in-Chief, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to eradicate crude oil theft and enhance Nigeria’s oil production for economic improvement. The operation involves aggressive surveillance and interdiction missions across the Niger Delta, utilizing Navy personnel, platforms, helicopters, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.
The Vice Admiral highlighted the operation’s significant impact on curbing maritime criminal activities and oil theft. The Nigerian Navy has conducted both kinetic and non-kinetic operations, leading to substantial results across multiple states including Bayelsa, Ondo, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom. The efforts have drastically limited the operations of oil thieves and vandals, contributing to the recovery of large quantities of stolen crude oil and refined products.
Statistics from the operation demonstrate its effectiveness:
– Recovery of massive quantities of stolen crude oil and refined products
– Seizure of 95 wooden boats and 13 fiber boats
– Deactivation of 119 storage tanks and refining ovens
– Deactivation of 447 dugout pits and 120 illegal refining sites
– Seizure of 9 vehicles
– Arrest of 74 suspects
– Seizure of 14 vessels
Vice Admiral Ogalla expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his steadfast support of the Armed Forces and the Nigerian Navy. He also commended the valor and dedication of all officers and men involved in Operation DELTA SANITY, who sacrifice daily to uphold the operation’s mandate.
The extension of Operation DELTA SANITY underscores the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to maintaining maritime security and bolstering the national economy through sustained efforts against crude oil theft.
