The Nigerian Navy’s Ahead Working Base (FOB) in Igbokoda has dismantled 9 unlawful refining websites and confiscated 20,000 litres of stolen crude oil and 15,000 litres of illegally refined diesel in Obenla, Ilaje Native Authorities Space of Ondo State.
Navy Captain Aliyu Usman, Commander of the Base, disclosed this throughout a briefing with journalists on Thursday, describing the operation as a part of the Navy’s ongoing efforts to fight crude oil theft and unlawful refining.
He said that the operation, carried out on January 6, 2025, was primarily based on credible intelligence.
“In continuation with the efforts of the Nigerian Navy to cease all acts of crude oil theft and unlawful refining inside the Nigerian atmosphere, the Ahead Working Base, Igbokoda, stormed right into a farmhouse of unlawful refining camp inside Obenla group, the place we found about 9 unlawful refining websites inside the Obenla sea websites,” Usman mentioned.
In keeping with the Commander, the suspects fled the scene earlier than the arrival of naval operatives.
“On arrival on the scene, the perpetrators have fled, clearly knowledgeable about our coming in worry of arrest.
“Nonetheless, the complete space was crammed, and we found about 20,000 litres of stolen crude oil, which was but to be cooked, and about 15,000 litres of illegally refined product suspected to be automated gasoline oil (AGO), or diesel.
“That is one more achievement for the Nigerian Navy within the efforts to wash up the atmosphere and stop all acts of illegalities by perpetrators towards the Nigerian state.
“These efforts will proceed till all illegalities are stopped, and this can be sustained so long as potential,” he said.
He additionally seized the chance to sensitise the residents of the Obenla group on the risks of harbouring such actions.
Usman additionally said that the Nigerian Navy won’t relent in its efforts to cease all acts of illegality, advising criminals to search out reliable companies to do.
The Nigerian Navy in December 2024 mentioned it might begin the second section of Operation Delta Sanity (OPDS II), because the Nigerian authorities plans to accentuate its warfare on crude oil theft in 2025.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Sources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, mentioned “In August 2023, Nigeria’s day by day crude oil manufacturing was barely one million bpd. At present, the nation produces about 1.8 million bpd.
Our goal is to achieve 3 million bpd by 2025, and we’re assured that the second section of OPDS will play a key position in reaching this milestone,” Lokpobiri mentioned
He mentioned the collaboration between the Federal Authorities and the Nigerian Navy will assist Nigeria obtain its goal of manufacturing 3 million barrels per day of crude oil by the tip of 2025.
