The Nigerian Amy has said that shortage of gunboats, fast-assault aircraft and other necessary military equipment was a major challenge to the operations of the Force against oil criminals in the Niger Delta region.
This disclosure was made on Sunday by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Army Division Enugu, Maj.-Gen. Adebayo Olaniyi, after an operational tour of the Joint Task Force (JTF) Sector-Two operation formations in Rivers state.
Speaking with journalists, Olaniyi said “If the JTF had adequate gunboats and fast assault crafts, it will improve our patrol and monitoring of the creeks, as well as guarantee quick response of our troops to reported crime scenes.”
According to him, “Constant patrols and monitoring of the creeks will discourage oil thieves and pipeline vandals from perpetrating their nefarious activities of sabotaging the economy of the country.
“If these facilities were sufficiently provided by the government; the efficiency and proficiency of our troops in policing the creeks will witness significant improvement.
“Communities can also assist the JTF by providing us with timely information that will lead to the arrest of oil thieves so as to discourage youth involvement in illegal oil bunkering activities,” he said.
Olaniyi urged Nigerians to always report cases of illegal oil bunkering, adding that any soldier found involved in theft of the product will be severely dealt with in accordance with the Army Code of Conduct.
As part of his tour, the GOC also held meetings with the officials of Pipeline and Product Marketing Company (PPMC), the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), amongst others.
Comments