Africa’s foremost maritime surveillance, defence and management agency, the Nigerian Navy says it would sustain its interagency collaboration and upscale of its combat capabilities in furtherance of its determination to curb oil theft and other criminal activities within the nation’s maritime space.  

Commanding Officer of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB), Bonny, Capt. Muhammad Abu said this during the handing over of an arrested vessel, MV AUTRY to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday, April 6, 2022 in Bonny, Rivers State.

Representatives of the EFCC led by Chioma Blessing Emereole, a Deputy Superintendent of EFCC (DSE), received the vessel at the brief event.

Navy Capt. Abu informed that MV AUTRY was arrested by the FOB Bonny in line with Maritime Law Enforcement (MLE) effort on Monday, January 10, 2022 along the Bonny Channel with eight crew members, all Nigerian onboard.

According to him, upon arrest, the vessel was discovered not to have relevant certifications from the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to operate in Nigerian waters, thus, the vessel was arrested and handed over to EFCC for further investigation and appropriate sanctions.

“In line with our patrol efforts in FOB Bonny, we normally interrogate the Anchorage by interrogating vessels outbound and inbound the Bonny Channel and on the 10^th of January, 2022, in line with our Maritime Law Enforcement efforts as well, we interrogated her and found out that she was carrying 125,587 liters of AGO, Automatic Gas Oil.”

“Also, when we check our safety papers, that’s the NIMASA documents and found out that they were not having appropriate Naval Headquarters’ approvals.”

The NN FOB CO stressed that the Nigerian Navy was adopting proactive measures to assert maritime dominance awareness capabilities, noting that these measures were already yielding positive results.

“Yes, like you are aware there are lots of operations running concurrently, Operation ‘Dakatar da Barawo’ to curb crude oil theft, and its ongoing; these are proactive measures that the Navy is taking as well.”

“We have our maritime dominance awareness capabilities. These are sensors that can sense all these things right from our Naval Headquarters; so, we can be alerted from the Naval Headquarters to go and investigate vessels of interest like this, which we have equally done in the past.”

“So, all of these measures put in place will help to checkmate issues like this so that we will not be reactive. But I can tell you that though issue of insecurity you cannot eliminate it completely you can only reduce it to its barest minimum and this is what we are achieving gradually.”   

Upon taking over MV AUTRY, the EFCC representatives marked the vessel, collected samples of the product onboard and obtained written statements from the crew to aid further investigations.

In her remarks, DSE Emereole informed that having taken over the vessel under consideration, the EFCC would commence full investigation into the alleged infractions committed by the said vessel, adding that the Commission will also interface with other relevant agencies in the course of its due diligence on the vessel.  

“Well, having taking over this vessel, MV AUTRY, we will commence investigation; sample products will be taken for analysis and then some relevant agencies will be written to, to find out if they are approved to ply Nigerian water channels.”

It would be noted that the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB) has sustained its surveillance of the Bonny Channel wherein it has ensured that maritime infractions by both Nigerian owned and foreign vessels are checked, perpetrators apprehended and interfacing with relevant sister security agencies for prosecution of apprehended vessels and crime suspects.