Navy introduces 24 hour patrol

Lagos - The Navy has introduced 24 hour patrols at the country’s waterways and creeks as it steps up efforts to curb increasing oil theft.

The Flag Officer Commanding Easter Naval Command, Rear Admiral Joe Aikhomu, confirmed the new patrol regime.

“Oil bunkering activities perpetrated by criminal elements poses serious challenge to the economy of the nation, which the Navy is seriously tackling. In our bid to ensure the nation’s economic growth, the Navy, among other strategies put in place, patrols the creeks 24 hours daily and we have recorded numerous successes through this step. We have so far destroyed several illegal oil refineries, arrested several oil thieves and pipeline vandals; and we will not stop until we rid our maritime domain of criminality and illegalities,” he said.

Aikhomu said the Navy would not take lightly any sabotage of the nation’s economy, promising that the security outfit would continue to fish out criminals within the country’s coastal areas.

He said he was touring Navy facilities across the country in order to ensure that the strategies put in place by formations’ commanders, facilities and training of officers and ratings were in order.

Nigeria, the continent’s biggest oil producer, loses an estimated US$5 billion per year to oil theft.