By SUMAILA OGBAJE

The Nigerian Navy says it apprehended no fewer than 215 suspected oil thieves and 26 vessels in 2024.

It also said that 468 Illegal Refinery Sites were deactivated within the period under the auspices of Operation Delta Sanity.

The Chief of Policy and Plans (Navy), Rear Adm. Ibrahim Dewu, made this known on Monday in Abuja during a news conference on the activities lined up to commemorate the 69th Anniversary Celebrations of the navy.

Dewu said that an estimated quantity of 6.5 million litres of stolen crude oil and seven million litres of illegally refined Automated Gas Oil were seized and appropriately handled.

He added that 361 wooden boats, 1,107 dugout pits and 279 storage tanks were also deactivated.

According to him, since January this year, more than 103 Illegal Refinery Sites have been destroyed and 34 suspects linked to crude oil theft have been arrested.

?Also, 39 wooden boats and one ship involved in this menace were also seized.

?Additionally, approximately 773,000 litres of crude oil and 150,000 litres of refined products have been recovered this year.

?All these efforts have impacted positively on Nigeria?s crude oil production, in line with the President and Commander-in-Chief?s directive to eradicate crude oil theft in order to ramp up Nigeria?s oil production and exports,? he said.

Dewu said the anniversary celebration, otherwise often referred to as ?Navy Week, was scheduled to hold from May 23 to June 1.

He said the Nigerian navy had grown from its humble beginnings with a handful of coastal boats into a force to be reckoned with, not only in the West African Sub-region, but also in the Gulf of Guinea and indeed the entire sub-Saharan Africa.

According to him, the Navy week also serves as an opportunity to present a scorecard of the navy?s performance in the service of our dear nation.

?The Nigerian Navy has continued to maintain round-the-clock situational awareness of Nigeria?s maritime domain extending to the limits of the Exclusive Economic Zone through our Maritime Domain Awareness Facilities.

?These facilities comprise the Falcon Eye and Regional Maritime Awareness Capacity Systems.

?Both systems enable early detection and swift response to incidents within Nigeria?s maritime environment.

?This has ensured that Nigeria maintained its zero-piracy status in the International Maritime Bureau piracy rating.

?In furtherance to this, the Nigerian Navy has taken the initiative to ensure that the entire Gulf of Guinea is free of piracy and other maritime crimes,? he added. (NAN)

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