Nigeria’s Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, has emphasized that increasing manpower is crucial to combating oil theft in the country’s maritime domain.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday, as part of activities marking the 69th anniversary of the Nigerian Navy, Ogalla noted that the Navy’s current strength of over 30,000 personnel is insufficient to effectively patrol Nigeria’s coastal waters, which cover one-third of the nation’s landmass.
To address this gap, the naval authorities have stepped up their annual recruitment efforts to bring in fresh talent.
The naval chief said, “It would surprise you to know that the Navy is just about 30 something thousand, and we have a coastal maritime area that is one-third of the nation’s landmass. Just about 30 something thousand in number. So, we are also building on this number, and we are increasing our recruitment, and our enlistment on an annual basis.
“It is an ongoing fight but the most important thing is that we are making tremendous progress.”
Vice Admiral Ogalla said the Nigerian Navy was not where it used to be, saying that it has become a continental force and a global reference.
“In terms of infrastructure and platforms, we have grown tremendously. In terms of surveillance and other maritime awareness, we have one of the best maritime awareness capacity in the world, a system that gives us visibility out there at sea.
“Like I always like to caution, every technology and every infrastructure has its limitation and that is why the human element comes into play, and we are not taking this aspect for granted; we are developing our personnel, we are also equipping ourselves.”
Special Court To Try Oil Thieves
Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla highlighted a significant decline in oil theft activities in Nigeria over the past few years.
The Chief of Naval Staff stressed that combating oil theft requires a unified effort among security agencies, including the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Army, and Nigerian Air Force, as well as active collaboration with coastal communities.
Ogalla underscored the importance of addressing oil theft through both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies. While military operations are essential, he emphasized tackling root causes such as unemployment and illiteracy.
He also pointed out that many of the ships involved in oil theft are foreign-owned, complicating prosecution processes. To address this, Ogalla advocated for the establishment of special courts to expedite the prosecution of suspects.
“We need special courts to make progress in the prosecution of maritime criminals,” Vice Admiral Ogalla said, adding that a presentation on it has been made to the justice minister Lateef Fagbemi and it is being considered.
Severe Punishment
Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla assured that oil theft in Nigeria can be curtailed to the point where it no longer poses a significant threat to the nation’s oil revenue.
He revealed that officers found complicit in oil theft have faced severe disciplinary actions under his leadership, including rank demotions and dismissals. “It’s too risky for any of our men to engage in oil theft,” he warned firmly.
Ogalla outlined the Navy’s comprehensive strategy for combating oil theft, which includes enhanced surveillance and environmental monitoring to identify saboteurs. Additionally, the Navy is expanding its infrastructure and fleet, equipping itself with more advanced platforms to ensure swift emergency responses.
To further strengthen its capacity, the Navy recently commissioned three new ships and three helicopters, underscoring its commitment to securing Nigeria’s maritime domain.