The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba, on Saturday said the Nigerian Navy had intercepted 17 vessels in the Niger-Delta which indulged in illegal maritime activities.
Ezeoba said this in Port Harcourt while briefing newsmen at the end of a joint sea military exercise code-named “Operation FARAUTA” which means hunting.
He said 17 vessels were intercepted out of which two were found culpable because they still had further explanations to give as to the quantity of product they had on board.
He said some of the vessels intercepted had crude oil in excess of the quantity authorised while one of them had no documentation.
The naval chief said the apprehended vessels did not possess the required documents authorising their activities.
He said, “It is important to note that the exercise would be continuous and we will do what is possible within the limit of available logistics.
“Going out at sea costs us a lot in terms of human and material resources and for us to continue to do what we are supposed to do, it is important we get all the support we can get from government.”
Ezeoba said it was difficult to patrol the nation’s waters if the right platforms were not made available to ensure that the capacity required was in place.
He added, “The enormity of the wealth of this country, the peace and stability, sustainable economic growth and development lies in the sea and it is only the navy that has the capacity to protect it.
“So we need to be encouraged and be empowered; I can assure you that given the right resources, we will certainly deliver.”
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