The Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral David Adeniran, says oil theft and sea piracy have reduced drastically in the Niger Delta region.
Adeniran made this known on Friday in an interview with journalists onboard Nigerian Navy Ship Okpabana in Calabar, Cross River State on the sideline of the fourth quarter exercise of the Nigerian Navy tagged ‘Exercise Ani-Oforifori’, meaning ‘chase thief’ in Kalabari language.
The FOU attributed the reduction to the constant patrol of the region by naval personnel at sea which has boosted the confidence and operations of oil platforms at sea.
Adeniran noted that the patrol also helps the Navy to interrogate and question other vessels operating in the maritime domain.
He said, “The more we are at sea, the better for the economy and the oil platforms including those operating legally at sea.
“It is, however, bad news for criminals operating at sea to know that we are on patrol.”