Arewa Intelligentia Caucus, a group based in the Northern part of the country, on Thursday, called on President Bola Tinubu to probe the Nigerian Navy under Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, over alleged crude oil theft, economy sabotage and promoting insecurity in the nation’s waterways.
The group in a statement by Abubakah Ciroma and Nasir Adamu, President and Publicity Secretary respectively, and made available to newsmen accused the Nigerian Navy of providing security for oil thieves.
The group therefore implored President Bola Tinubu to set up a probe panel like that of the Obaze investigative team that has exposed the rot in the Central Bank of Nigeria, to probe the Navy over the sea of allegations against it.
They also called for the immediate sack of the Chief Naval of Staff, Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla to prevent interference with the investigation.
The said the Naval Chief despite glaring evidence of his men being caught red handed colluding with oil thieves has failed to discipline them.
The Arewa Intelligentia Caucus noted that the allegations levelled against the Nigerian Navy must not be swept under the carpet, saying that “they are serious, damaging and demands a thorough investigation to establish their veracity.”
The group also accused the Nigerian Navy of sabotaging the efforts of private security outfits, especially Tantita Security Services Limited, engaged by the Federal Government to protect the nation’s oil assets.
The group noted that since Tantita Security Services Limited took on the job of providing surveillance over oil assets so much have been achieved.
They said reports available to them showed that crude oil production has improved dramatically to over 1.7 million barrels per day, from below 700 thousand barrels it was before Tantita Security Services Limited stepped in.
They said the Navy feels humiliated and angry for the assignment of its function to private companies, adding that this was why it is out to continually find fault with the companies and get their contracts revoked.
According to the group, the Navy wants to be solely incharge of pipelines’ security in the nation’s territorial waters.
The group lamented that rather than support and lend a helping hand to the security companies in their operations, when the need arises, the Navy is busy, maligning, mudslinging and fabricating stories to tarnish the reputation of the private security services.
“There are recent reports and evidence that seriously compromised the Navy. Its denial of the accusations has similarity with the crocodile, whose head is deep in water, while its back appears pronounced above water.
“The Navy a while ago provided security for oil thieves in the Ondo coastal waters. Its men fired shots sporadically in all directions to prevent men of a private security company backed by amphibious soldiers and men of the NSCDC from approaching a wellhead where criminals siphoned oil,” the Arewa group stated.
According to the group, “About two weeks ago we read a publication made by a group based in Ibadan, Oyo State: The O’dua Integrity Network. It is in reaction to their damming revelations that we are prompt to write to you. Their publication was revealing enough on the Navy’s sabotage of the nation’s oil assets and actions that border on instigating insecurity.
“The Navy despite its abundant manpower and equipment could not protect the nation’s oil assets from being over run by a cartel of illegal crude bunkerers and thieves.
“The security companies – Tantita Security Services Limited (TSSL), operated by Chief Government Ekpemupolo and Pipelines Infrastructures Limited ( PIL) managed by the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwase ÌII are placed under the supervision of a Project Management Office- the Inter – Atlas Synergy Limited ( IASL).
“These companies were hired because right under the nose of the Navy, massive oil theft took place unresisted on a daily basis for years.
“This crippled oil production and denied the federal government the much needed revenue to run the country.
“Had the Navy been equal to its duties, it wouldn’t have been necessary for the government to look elsewhere.”
Below is the full statement by the Arewa group:
Below is the full statement by the AREWA INTELLIGENTIA CAUCUS:
WE DEMAND PROBE OF THE NIGERIAN NAVY UNDER ADMIRAL EMMANUEL OGALLA OVER CRUDE OIL THEFT, ECONOMY SABOTAGE AND PROMOTING INSECURITY IN THE NATION’S WATERWAYS
Mr. President sir, we join all Nigerians in wishing you compliments of the season.
We have absolute confidence in the capacity of your government to deliver democracy dividends. Despite all the current teething problems, we are sure you will pull the nation out of the woods and bring succour to the citizens.
All the steps you have taken so far point in that direction.
Just a week after your inauguration, you made some moves that no one contemplated. These moves will bring sanity into the affairs of government, turn the wheels of progress around and galvanize the nation towards a better tomorrow.
We note in particular, the setting up of the Obaze investigative team to look into the books of the CBN. This panel has exposed the rot in the system.
The findings of the panel are in public domain and available to Nigerians.
We pray you adopt the report and go to work with it immediately. It should not be left to gather dust. The culprits, who wreaked such monumental havoc on the nation’s financial system must account for their recklessness.
A certain individual who abused the privilege of holding public office, and thereafter escaped abroad, is eagerly confessing her misdeeds, she is now asking to return home to aid in the recovery of looted funds, which are in billions of dollars.
This has never happened in the annals of our existence. It is out of the blues.
Your Excellency sir, Insha Allah, this administration is on course, Nigerians in the not too distant future shall reap the benefits of your policies, innovations and hardwork.
Sir, please be resolute, never let others with alternate mindset derail you from track.
The national interest must outweigh other considerations.
About two weeks ago we read a publication made by a group based in Ibadan, Oyo State: The O’dua Integrity Network. It is in reaction to their damming revelations that we are prompt to write to you. Their publication was revealing enough on the Navy’s sabotage of the nation’s oil assets and actions that border on instigating insecurity.
The contents were quite shocking.
The allegations levelled on the Nigerian Navy must not be swept under the carpet. They are serious, damaging and demands a thorough investigation to establish their veracity.
An institution established by government for national defence, cannot turn around to work in contrast to its mandate.
The Nigerian Navy is an apex security institution, alongside the Nigerian Army and Airforce. It is funded by taxpayers money. It therefore cannot be a law unto itself, nor be overlooked while it denigrates the national interest.
Allowing the Navy free rein is granting it permission to shoot the nation in the foot.
The Federal Government contracted the surveillance and protection of oil pipelines in the Niger Delta region to private security companies when the Nigerian Navy abysmally failed in its duty.
The previous administration engaged three private security companies to compliment the responsibility of the Nigerian Navy because it had no choice.
The Navy despite its abundant manpower and equipment could not protect the nation’s oil assets from being over run by a cartel of illegal crude bunkerers and thieves.
And not engaging them could have brought Nigeria on her knees.
The security companies – Tantita Security Services Limited (TSSL), operated by Chief Government Ekpemupolo and Pipelines Infrastructures Limited ( PIL) managed by the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwase ÌII are placed under the supervision of a Project Management Office- the Inter – Atlas Synergy Limited ( IASL).
These companies were hired because right under the nose of the Navy, massive oil theft took place unresisted on a daily basis for years.
This crippled oil production and denied the federal government the much needed revenue to run the country.
Had the Navy been equal to its duties, it wouldn’t have been necessary for the government to look elsewhere.
Since the companies took on the job of providing surveillance over oil assets so much have been achieved.
Reports available showed that crude oil production has improved dramatically to over 1.7 million barrels per day, from below 700 thousand barrels it was before they stepped in.
It is therefore ridiculous that the Nigerian Navy is paranoid and uncomfortable with the remarkable achievement.
The question now is: What does the Navy want?
Rather than support and lend a helping hand to the security companies in their operations, when the need arises, the Navy is busy, maligning, mudslinging and fabricating stories to impugn their reputation.
It smells a rat where there is none. It has never given the security companies a breathing space, most especially Tantita.
The Navy is either sabotaging their work to criminalise them, give them a bad name, or it directly engaging and aiding thieves to siphon crude.
Thereafter, it tries to pin the blame on security companies.
There are recent reports and evidence that seriously compromised the Navy. Its denial of the accusations has similarity with the crocodile, whose head is deep in water, while its back appears pronounced above water.
The Navy a while ago provided security for oil thieves in the Ondo coastal waters. Its men fired shots sporadically in all directions to prevent men of a private security company backed by amphibious soldiers and men of the NSCDC from approaching a wellhead where criminals siphoned oil.
The Navy feels humiliated and has become reckless in cutting its nose to spite its face. It is angry for the assignment of its function to private companies.
It is out to continually find fault with the companies and get their contracts revoked.
The Navy wants to be solely incharge of pipelines’ security in the nation’s territorial waters.
Mr. President sir, through security briefings the government is aware of the Navy’s clandestine schemes.
We advise that you thread with caution. A tsetse fly perched on the scrotum must be tackled with wisdom.
Even people outside official circles know the Nigerian Navy is misbehaving.
It is no secret that those who facilitated the appointment of the Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla PSC, FSS, through proxies in corridors of power, are members of cartels in the oil black market.
They have him in complete restraint, hence he can’t discipline his men.
The Naval Chief despite glaring evidence of his men being caught red handed colluding with oil thieves has failed to discipline them.
While the Nigerian Army, the Airforce and security agencies give needed assistance to the private security companies in their job, the Navy scuttles their work.
It is on the offensive to rid the security companies off the waterways, so that the era of unregulated illegal oil business will return.
We know Mr. President sees through the antics of the Navy.
On this note, we ask that an unassailable penal like the one headed by Obaze is constituted to probe the Navy over the many allegations against it.
There is no smoke without fire.
The Chief Naval of Staff, Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla should be relieved of his duty to prevent interference with the investigation.
May Allah protect and guide you in the task ahead.
Yours sincerely,
Abubakah Ciroma
President
Nasir
Adamu
Publicity Secretary