Expdonaloaded News; How to end crude oil theft – Ex-naval chief

The immediate past Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin, has advised the Federal Government to ensure prosecution of crude oil thieves, if it must succeed in its battle against oil theft.
Admiral Jibrin said: “For total elimination of crude oil theft and illegal bunkering, Federal Government agencies empowered to prosecute offenders must expeditiously bring offenders to justice. There is also the need for legal review that will enable the Nigerian Navy to prosecute maritime criminals or offenders.”
He gave the advice during a pull-out parade organized by the force to mark his retirement from service, explaining that crude oil from arrested vessels should be immediately evacuated by the Directorate of Petroleum Resources to Nigerian refineries, for local use after due documentation between appropriate agencies.
The former naval chief also revealed that former President, Goodluck Jonathan, had accused security agencies, particularly the Navy, of stealing the nation’s crude oil, adding that  the accusation spurred him into action on assumption of office.
He stated that the matching order by the then President ultimately led to the decision to declare war on oil thieves and illegal bunkerers, including pirates and sea robbers.
According to him, the presidential order led to the arrest of quite a number of oil vessels within the nation’s territorial waters.
He said:  “On assumption of office, I articulated my vision, which include to emplace a well trained, equipped, maintained, organized and highly multivated naval force capable of being deployed solely or with other armies of services in the defence of Nigeria’s maritime environment, other troubled spots and the Gulf of Guinea for sustained economic prosperity.
“After articulating my vision statement, I decided to place large premium on adequate training, motivation of personnel, and operational availability of assets in order to evaluate the ability of the Nigerian Navy to effectively perform her roles. Those efforts have paid off as evidenced by several achievements recorded by the navy in the past 18 months.”
He further stated that during the period, the navy increased the number of Regional Maritime Awareness Capablity (RMAC) sites from seven to 10 through the establishment of new sites at Brass, Formoso, and the general Naval Command headquarters at Yenegoa, Bayelsa state, for enhanced anti-crude oil theft operations.
Admiral Jibrin stated: “I am glad to note the increased successes recorded by the Navy in her policing operations. In collaboration with the joint Task Force Operation Pulo Shield, the Navy effected the arrest of many vessels and their crew from January 16, 2014 to July 14, 2015. The strategy of not releasing any of the arrested vessels until decided otherwise by court of competent jurisdiction, also assisted in checking crude oil theft and illegal bunkering.”