The Nigerian Navy has ramped up efforts to combat oil theft, dismantling 468 illegal refineries and recovering over 773,000 litres of stolen crude oil so far in 2024.
Officials say the crackdown has helped boost national oil output in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive.
Rear Admiral Ibrahim Dewu, Chief of Policy and Plans, disclosed the figures during a press briefing in Abuja ahead of the Navy’s 69th Anniversary celebrations.
“From January to date, we have arrested 215 suspected oil thieves and seized 26 vessels engaged in illegal refining and oil theft activities,” Dewu said. “Our actions are yielding positive results in safeguarding Nigeria’s oil infrastructure and economic interests.”
The Navy also recovered approximately 6.5 million litres of stolen crude oil and seven million litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), while destroying 361 wooden boats, 1,107 dugout pits, and 279 storage tanks used in the illegal operations.
In addition to recovering stolen resources, Dewu said 39 more wooden boats and one vessel were intercepted, alongside 150,000 litres of refined products.
These operations are part of Operation Delta Sanity, a nationwide military campaign against oil theft and piracy. A second phase of the campaign, Operation Delta Sanity II, launched in March, targeted illegal refineries across several states and led to additional seizures in April.
Dewu emphasised that the Navy’s efforts are aligned with President Tinubu’s directive to restore confidence in Nigeria’s oil export system and increase production levels.
“Our enhanced patrols and maritime surveillance capabilities have helped maintain Nigeria’s zero-piracy status on the International Maritime Bureau’s piracy index,” Dewu stated.
He credited the Navy’s technological infrastructure, such as the Falcon Eye and Regional Maritime Awareness Capability systems, with extending surveillance across the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone and enabling rapid response to maritime threats.
The Navy, founded as a coastal defense force, has grown into a key regional player in maritime security. “We are now a formidable presence not just in Nigeria, but across the Gulf of Guinea and sub-Saharan Africa,” Dewu said.
The Navy Week celebration, which runs from May 23 to June 1, will highlight these achievements and reinforce the Navy’s role in national and regional stability.
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