Mkpoikana Udoma Port Harcourt — The Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Pathfinder, says the increased crude oil production in the country was predicated on the onslaught against oil theives and economic saboteurs by the Navy.
The outgoing Commander of NNS Pathfinder, Commodore Ibrahim Suleiman, stated this during a farewell parade in his honour in Port Harcourt, saying the feat was achieved through collaborations with the oil companies.
Suleiman said the NNS Pathfinder had been instrumental to the increased onshore crude oil production, maintaining that since he assumed office in March 2022, the issue of illegal oil bunkering and pipeline vandalism had reduced.
He said: “The base was particularly instrumental in the increased onshore crude oil production with the effective support and escort provided during the alternative crude barging operations.
“This of course would not have been possible without the collaboration of the Navy and the oil companies.
“I must also commend the synergy that the Base enjoyed with other sister agencies; this has no doubt ensured the peaceful atmosphere being enjoyed in Rivers State.
“The number of illegal cooking camps, the Cotonou boats are in hundreds and the number of arrests is over 150 persons and we have handed them over to relevant agencies to be prosecuted. As you know, the Navy does not have that authority to prosecute.”
Speaking on his achievement, the NNS Pathfinder boss disclosed that under his leadership, the Tactical Riverine Assault Squadron, TRAS, was created to stamp out riverine oil thieves.
He noted that some of the changes he inspired were daily physical training exercises, welfare of personnel, range classification and anti-attack drills.
“I can recall that I assumed Command of this foremost Naval Base on 31st March 2022 and since then we all collectively had to go through various transformations to enable us to meet contemporary challenges.
“It is pertinent to state that these transformations did not come easy, however, they were key to the successes of NNS Pathfinder in its fight against illegalities within the maritime domain of Rivers State.”
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