Navy shuts down over 216 illegal refineries in 5 months

Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, has revealed that over 216 illegal refineries have been closed in the last five months.

Gambo disclosed this while speaking on Channels Television’s NewsNight on Monday.

He noted that the accomplishment of the Navy saved about 41 million liters of fuel, or N27 billion, during the review period.

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 storage 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 liters 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 liters 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.”

Read also: Buhari appoints ex-Navy officer as pioneer counter-terrorism chief

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 a license, saying such ships will be prosecuted by the Federal Government through the AGF’s office, noting that intelligence was vital to fighting terrorism and maritime crimes.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now