Over 216 Illegal Refining Sites Deactivated, N27Bn Saved In Five Months, Says Naval Chief

The Naval chief also explained that the Navy lost so many cases on arrested maritime vessels basically because they lack constitutional powers to prosecute maritime suspects.

He said, “I must put on record that a review of Operation Dakatar Da Barawo in the last five months revealed over 216 illegal refining sites that were deactivated. We have over 2,920 metal storages and over 145 wooden boats that were destroyed during the period under review.

“Of course, in addition, oil thieves were by implication denied 41,308,340 litres which is equivalent to 366 or 60,241 barrels of crude oil. Regarding AGO (Automotive Gas Oil popularly known as diesel), we have 18,747,830 litres of illegally AGO.

“This has prevented over N27bn from getting to undeserving individuals which could be used to support criminals of all kinds in diverse ways. Though we are not yet there but achievement recorded thus far necessitated a review of the outrageous quantities of stolen crude oil.”

Similarly, the naval chief said it was not true that between 20,000 and 200,000 barrels of crude oil are being stolen daily in Nigeria. According to him, 100,000 barrels of crude is the equivalent of 15.8 million litres of crude oil requiring a five-ton barge to make 3,160 trips to convey to a mother vessel within a day. “Most of these claims are definitely outrageous and unrealistic,” he maintained.

Gambo further noted that indigenous ship-building efforts of the Nigerian Navy is gaining traction in West Africa, adding that the Navy hopes to launch the building of two attack ships in Turkey by September.

He also confirmed the arrest of super ships loading oil within Nigeria’s space without license, saying such ships will be prosecuted by the Federal Government through the AGF office, noting that intelligence is vital to fighting terrorism and maritime crimes.

Gambo, also said naval authorities are in talks with the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) for the Federal Government to release part of the proceeds recovered from the sale of arrested vessels and maritime assets.

According to the naval chief, the Nigerian Navy should be a beneficiary of part of the proceeds of recovered maritime assets after sale. The funds, he noted, will go a long way to ensure exhibits are kept safe during litigations.

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Gambo said, “In the conduct of our statutory enforcement and maritime policy roles, the Nigerian Navy arrests numerous criminals for committing infractions within our maritime domain. However, unlike other law enforcement agencies with prosecuting rights, we cannot prosecute offenders.

“To that effect, the Nigerian Navy has lost many cases on arrested vessels due to non-diligent prosecution because we have the exhibits. And in keeping the exhibits, it costs us huge logistics requirements which are not budgeted for.

“To that effect, we are in liaison with the office of the Attorney General (of the Federation) so that when such vessels or maritime offenders are prosecuted, the proceeds of sale of crime, the Nigerian Navy should be beneficiary of part of it so that the resources you have used to make sure that those exhibits are safe, and subsequently handed over to the Nigerian Government, so that we benefit from that seizure or sale so that it also enhance our operations.“