Navy Attributes Oil Theft Reduction To Operational Efficiency

The Eastern Naval Command has attributed the recent drop in oil theft in Cross River and Akwa Ibom states to the operational efficiency of the Nigerian Navy.
Flag Officer Commanding, ENC, Rear Admiral Obiora Medani, stated this yesterday in Calabar during the 2nd FOC Biennial Inspection Tour of facilities within the command.
The FOC inspected the Navy Fleet Support Ships, Nigerian Navy Ship Victory, Navy Secondary and Primary schools, Navy Reference Hospital, among others.

The Eastern Naval Command has attributed the recent drop in oil theft in Cross River and Akwa Ibom states to the operational efficiency of the Nigerian Navy.
Flag Officer Commanding, ENC, Rear Admiral Obiora Medani, stated this yesterday in Calabar during the 2nd FOC Biennial Inspection Tour of facilities within the command.
The FOC inspected the Navy Fleet Support Ships, Nigerian Navy Ship Victory, Navy Secondary and Primary schools, Navy Reference Hospital, among others.
Medani, who said the inspection was part of the Navy’s administrative and operational strategy to assess the fighting efficiency of units under his command, expressed satisfaction with performance of his men.
He, however, said that criminals have resorted to attacking soft targets such as passenger boats in the creeks as a result of the high presence of navy patrol on the waterways.
Medani said, “The issue of oil theft and piracy is coming down. In Calabar River, we have put in lots of patrol especially around Oron/Ikang axis. The reduction in sea robbery that is taking place in this area is as a result of our efficient and effective patrols.
The Nigerian Navy has done tremendous job and I can give statistics. In January when the present Chief of Naval Staff took over, Nigeria was losing 2.6million barrels of crude oil per month to sea robbery. As at September which is the last published figure, it has dropped to 800,000 barrels.
“Our effective patrol has made it impossible for sea robbers to attack oil service vessels and international boats that apply between Nigeria, Sao Tome, Cameroon and Gabon. Because of our effective patrol along this axis, they can’t get around them. So, they have now resorted to attacking soft target which are passengers boats.”
Medani, however, gave assurance that the Navy would not relent in its effort in ensuring that the water ways were free from criminals and pirates.
He used the medium to commend the Federal and Cross River State Government for intervening in the control of the erosion site that was posing a threat to the command.