Connect with us

Maritime

We’ve Seized N3bn worth of Petrol Products in Three Weeks – Navy

Published

on

Nigeria Navy
Share

Nigerian Navy says it has seized about 6 million litres of petroleum products worth over N3 billion from oil thieves since it launched Operation Dakatar Da Barawo (OPDDB), also known as ‘Stop the Thief’.

In the first week of April, the navy said arrested and seized about N200 million worth of petroleum products from oil thieves.

The Navy said this was a headway to end oil theft and illegal refining.

Spokesperson of the Nigerian Navy, Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

The statement noted that the navy clamped down on illegal refining sites around Sara creek, Asugbo creek, and Ereweibio creek, among others, in a week.

“In furtherance of “Operation Dakatar Da Barawo,” launched by the Nigerian Navy on April 1, 2022, the Service’s unrelenting effort to check increasing crude oil theft and related acts of economic sabotage has recorded more arrests and seizures between April 15-23, 2022, being the third week of the operation.

On April 15, 2022, Nigerian Navy Ship DELTA at Warri, deactivated an Illegal Refining Site around Sara creek,” the statement reads.

“The IRS had 16 ovens, 16 metal storage tanks and three wide pits filled with about 500,000 litres of illegally refined AGO, as well as 700,000 litres of stolen crude oil, a generator and four pumping machines. Also, an IRS at Asugbo creek in Warri was discovered with six ovens, 12 metal storage tanks and five large pits all containing about 600,000 litres of stolen crude oil, including 200,000 litres of illegally refined AGO and about 150,000 litres of sludge.

“Similarly, sequel to series of air reconnaissance, Forward Operating Base FORMOSO in Bayelsa State on April 19, 2022, raided an IRS at Ereweibio creek in Brass LGA. Accordingly, seven large cooking ovens, 10 large metal storage tanks and drums all laden with about 400,000 litres of illegally refined AGO and 20,000 litres of suspected illegally refined PMS were discovered. The site also had five large pits holding approximately 700,000 litres of stolen crude oil. Equally, two pumping machines, one gasoline generator, one submersible pump and one chainsaw machine were discovered at the site and destroyed in situ.”

The statement added that an IRS at Lelemu creek in Warri south-west was discovered on April 21, 2022.

“During the operation, 19 ovens, 26 metal storage tanks and two dugout pit laden with about 250,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and 50,000 litres of illegally refined automotive gas oil (AGO) were destroyed,” it said.

“To ensure effective deactivation of IRS, NNS DELTA on 21 April 2022 conducted swamp buggy operations during which an earlier identified IRS around Egwa creek in Warri was destroyed.

“During the operation, 16 ovens, 31 metal storage tanks and seven large pits all filled with about 850,000 litres of stolen crude oil were equally deactivated.

“Relatedly, on April 22 2022, around Lelemu creek in Warri south-west local government area (LGA) of Delta state, personnel under NNS DELTA again discovered 22 IRS ovens, 12 metallic storage tanks and five large pits all containing about 150,000 litres of stolen crude oil.

“At another IRS off Lelemu creek, 19 ovens, 42 storage tanks and 14 large pits containing about 300,000 litres of stolen crude oil, as well as approximately 200,000 litres of illegally refined AGO, 100,000 litres of illegally refined DPK and 100,000 litres of suspected crude oil sludge were all destroyed,” it said.

It also noted that combing the area off Jones creek led to the discovery of another IRS with five ovens, two metal storage tanks and eight large pits with about 150,000 litres of sludge.

It said both IRS off Jones creek with the discovered items and products were destroyed in situ.

“Succinctly, Week three of the OPDDB saw the seizure of over 6,000,000 litres of products valued over N3 billion from oil thieves and economic saboteurs. The migration by operators of IRS from the South-South geopolitical zone to the South-East also comes to the fore,” it said.

“This development will in no way deter the Nigerian Navy from ensuring zero tolerance for COT, IRS, illegal bunkering and related economic crimes in the nation’s maritime environment and adjoining territory.”

Amid efforts to curtail oil theft, over the weekend, at least 100 people had been reportedly killed after a blast at an illegal oil refining site in Ohaji/Egbema area of Imo state.

Reacting to the incident, President Muhammadu Buhari ordered that the sponsors of the illegal refinery should be brought to book.

Business News

Onitsha River Port Begins Commercial Operations 

Published

on

Share

By Tony Obiechina, Abuja 

One year after taking over the management of Onitsha River Port, Universal Elysium Consortium Limited, the concessionaires of Onitsha River Port reached an important milestone when it formally received its first barge at the Port on the 16th of August 2023.

 

According to the Managing Director, Dr.

George Nwangwu, the barge was fully handled by the crew of Onitsha River Port.
 

The barge that arrived Onitsha Port is a consignment of tiles from Ajaokuta to Onitsha.

 It is expected that this is going to be a weekly occurrence going forward as the consignees of the goods would now move 600 tons of tiles to Onitsha every week and take 600 tons of clay back to Ajaokuta.

The General Manager of Onitsha River Port, Wannes De Wit, also expressed his happiness on reaching this very important milestone. According to him, the activity helped take more than 70 trucks off the busy roads and this was only possible and achievable because of the higher water level in the river Niger during the rainy season. 

According to him, this only happens for 6 months in a year due to the low water levels in the Rive Niger during the dry season. He however pleaded with the Federal Government to dredge the river channel so that goods can be moved through the river channel all year round as this would have immense benefits to the country. 

The Managing Director paid tribute to the operations team at the Port which consists of the supervisors, dockers, crane operators, and forklift operators who really put in immense effort to ensure the operation was seamless and successful. 

According to the MD, the goal of the company is to continue to strive to make Onitsha Port great despite all the challenges.

Continue Reading

Maritime

Foundation Tasks Senate Committee on Autonomy of Coastal Communities

Published

on

Share

The Ocean Ambassadors Foundation (OAF) has urged Sen. Wasiu Sanni, the new Chairman, Senate Committee on Marine Transport, to push for autonomy of coastal maritime state.

The President, OAF, Mrs Violet Williams, made the call in an interview yesterday in Lagos.

Williams, a blue economy professional and former member of the Board of the Nigeria Shippers’ Council, also congratulated Sanni on his emergence as the Chairman, Senate Committee on Marine Transport.

According to her, stakeholders are expecting a positive turnaround in the maritime industry, especially in line with the blue economy.

“This is because we are looking at 2030 actualisation of the establishment of blue economy in all maritime nation.

“Ghana is doing well on it, even Togo and so we expect that he as the new man with a background in agric, he should be able to push for the blue economy and autonomy of coastal maritime state.

“Looking at the 13 per cent oil derivation for the oil producing state, they are getting it and enjoying it.

“So, let the maritime state, the coastal communities enjoy the benefits of the coastal economy which is the blue economy,” she said.

She noted that it was a delight to have Sanni as the maritime game changer for all the coastal communities in Nigeria to be strategically positioned.

The 62-year old Sanni is the senator representing Lagos Central.

He previously served as the Deputy speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly from 2015 to 2023.

OAF is an non-profit organisation geared toward enhancing awareness about maritime opportunities whilst building the next crop of elite Nigerian practitioners in the maritime sector via strategic mentorship programmes for secondary school students.

It works in partnership with government agencies and private organisations in the nation’s shipping sector while connecting school authorities, teachers and pupils in a holistic approach to stimulate interest in shipping among young ones. (NAN)

Continue Reading

Business News

NIMASA Takes over Continental Shipyard for Modular Floating Dock

Published

on

Share

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has taken over areas leased to it by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) at the Continental Shipyard for the operations of the Modular Floating Dock.

The Director General of NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh, said this at the handing-over ceremony in Lagos Wednesday.

He said the areas include, but not limited to the dolphin jetty, waterfront of the jetty adjourning the slipway, an administrative block, a construction, welding and mechanical workshop and a civil maintenance workshop, among others.

Jamoh said that the handover of the Continental Shipyard to NIMASA marked the final lap in the quest of the agency to deploy the modular floating Dockyard.

The DG, represented by the Head, Public-Private Partnership (PPP), Unit, Mr Kabiru Diso, assured stakeholders that the modular floating dockyard would soon be deployed since all grey areas between NIMASA and the NPA had been cleared.

“The modular floating dockyard is a national asset and now that all grey areas between the NPA and NIMASA have been addressed, we are very close to the deployment of the dock.

“Our goal is to domicile dry-docking of vessels in the country, thus saving the nation foreign exchange, currently expended on dry-docking vessels outside the shores of Nigeria.

“The floating dock will also provide both direct and indirect employment to Nigerians with a multiplier effect on capacity development,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission (ICRC) had issued a certificate of compliance for an Outline Business Case (OBC) for the operation of the floating dock, while also describing it as bankable and sustainable.

The modular floating dock, which has the capacity to handle up to 10,000 metric tons vessels, would be run on a Public Private Partnership arrangement. (NAN)

Continue Reading

Read Our ePaper

Top Stories

NEWS8 hours ago

FCT HOS: Why President Tinubu Extends Atang’s Tenure By 6 Months

ShareBy Laide Akinboade, AbujaPresident Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has approved the extension of Atang Udo Samuel, as the the Head of...

NEWS8 hours ago

FGGC Benin Emerges Winner of 2023 National Senior Secondary Schools’ Debate

ShareBy Tony Obiechina, AbujaThe Federal Government Girls College, Benin has emerged overall winner of the 2023 National Senior Secondary Schools’...

NEWS8 hours ago

We’re Meeting Our Targets on Airport -Kuje Road Construction – Wike

ShareBy Laide Akinboade, AbujaThe Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, haom Wednesday,  expressed satisfaction with the...

NEWS9 hours ago

Osun to Partner FG on Culture, Tourism Development

ShareFrom Kunle IdowuGovernor Ademola Adeleke has secured a partnership deal with the Ministry of Tourism on the development of tourism...

POLITICS9 hours ago

I Didn’t Call for Ganduje’s Resignation – Alia

ShareFrom Attah Ede, MakurdiGovernor Hyacinth Alia of Benue has denied calling for the resignation of Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, the All...

POLITICS9 hours ago

Mutfwang Meets PDP North Central Leadership Calls for Unity among Officials

ShareFrom Jude Dangwam, JosThe Executive Governor of Plateau State, Barrister Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang has called for unity a purpose among...

POLITICS9 hours ago

FG Seeks Swedish Govt Support on Technical Education

ShareBy Tony Obiechina, Abuja The Federal Government is seeking the support of the Swedish Government to help drive its ongoing...

Metro9 hours ago

FG Declares March 29, April 1, Public Holiday to Mark Easter Celebration

ShareThe Federal Government has declared Friday, March 29, and Monday, April 1, as public holidays to mark the Easter celebration.This...

NEWS9 hours ago

Nigeria Prepared to Expedite Sustainable Dev’t in Collaboration with Partners — Tinubu

SharePresident Bola Tinubu yesterday said his administration is committed to deepening democracy by ensuring adherence to the rule of law...

NEWS9 hours ago

Police Engage Bandits in Gun Battle, Kill two, Arrest One in Benue

ShareFrom Attah Ede, Makurdi Men of the Benue State Police Command yesterday engaged bandits in gun duel in Mba-Mtsar village,...

Copyright © 2021 Daily Asset Limited | Powered by ObajeSoft Inc