The Nigerian Navy has reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the nation’s maritime environment, a critical asset to Nigeria’s economic prosperity.
Speaking during a recent engagement, Rear Admiral Eugenio Olusegun Ferreira, Chief of Training and Operations, highlighted the Navy’s efforts in combating maritime crimes and promoting regional and international collaboration.
Nigeria’s maritime domain, encompassing an Exclusive Economic Zone of 84,000 square nautical miles and an extended continental shelf of 147,000 square nautical miles, is a hub for shipping, oil reserves, and numerous installations. Rear Admiral Ferreira emphasized the necessity of protecting this vast area to ensure economic growth and national development.
Under its constitutional mandate, the Navy has taken proactive measures against oil theft, piracy, smuggling, and illegal fishing. Anti-oil theft operations remain pivotal due to the significance of oil revenues to the nation’s economy. Over the past four years, the Navy has achieved notable milestones including the confiscation of over 8.1 million barrels of stolen crude oil and 86,500 metric tons of illegally refined diesel. In the course of these operations, 392 suspected oil thieves were apprehended and seizure of vessels including MT SWEET MIRI and MT VILLANIRIS 1, laden with 4 million liters of stolen crude oil, were made.
The deactivation and shut down of 1,528 illegal refining sites and over 8,700 storage tanks, were recorded.
Rear Admiral Ferreira saluted the sacrifices of Navy personnel who lost their lives in these operations, underscoring the Navy’s resolve to protect the nation’s resources.
Acknowledging the transnational nature of maritime crimes, the Navy collaborates with neighboring countries like Cameroon, Benin, and Togo. Exercises such as Crocodile Lift and Grand African NEMO, conducted with regional navies and international partners, strengthen cooperation in combating Gulf of Guinea maritime crimes.
The Navy also works closely with industry regulators like the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to monitor crude oil lifting operations, ensuring compliance with regulatory approvals. These efforts have significantly boosted Nigeria’s crude oil output from 1.23 million barrels per day in October 2022 to 1.8 million barrels per day in October 2024.
Despite its successes, the Navy has faced unfounded allegations aimed at tarnishing its image. Rear Admiral Ferreira cited incidents such as the false accusations against MT PRAISEL and MT LADY MARTINA, which disrupted legitimate oil operations. He warned that such misrepresentations harm the ease of doing business in Nigeria’s oil sector, deterring investment and progress.
Looking ahead, the Navy will host the 2024 Symposium of Heads of Navies from Gulf of Guinea countries, in collaboration with the European Union and the French Navy. Scheduled for November 26–28 at the Transcorp Hilton Abuja, the symposium will focus on “Maritime Security and Sustainable Development in the Gulf of Guinea.”
The event will feature sessions on regional and international cooperation, maritime domain awareness, and legal frameworks for maritime security. It aims to deepen the implementation of the Yaoundé Code of Conduct and foster a conducive environment for legitimate maritime business.
Rear Admiral Ferreira reaffirmed the Navy’s dedication to its statutory roles and its collaboration with credible stakeholders to protect national resources. He said that The Nigerian Navy will remain focused, professional, and committed to securing the nation’s maritime environment for economic prosperity and national development.
As Nigeria charts its course toward a prosperous maritime future, the Navy remains the steadfast guardian of its waters, embodying the spirit of its motto: Fair Winds and Onward Together.
