By Adedapo Adesanya
The joint military task force operating in the Niger Delta region with the codename Operation Delta Safe has affirmed its commitment to eliminate crude oil theft, illegal refining and illegal oil bunkering activities in the country, in line with the directive of President Bola Tinubu.
The Commander of Operation Delta Safe, Rear Admiral Olusegun Ferreira, affirmed this in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Wednesday, during his maiden visit and familiarization tour to units under OPDS.
Mr Ferreira said the visit was imperative to assess the operational tempo of the joint task force in line with its mandate from the Defence Headquarters to protect oil and gas infrastructure within the Niger Delta region, geared towards ensuring the continuous thriving of economic activities in the country.
According to him, OPDS has attained a very high level of operational success, and the environment has largely been sanitized, as the soot pollution.
He said, “If you recall back in the day, you will find black soot in Port Harcourt and environs but that has gone down. Naturally, these criminal elements will try to sustain their criminal acts all geared towards illicit sources of funds, but they have forgotten that the environment is our common heritage which we all must get to protect.
“Nonetheless, OPDS will continue to pursue and implement all necessary operations that will continue to eliminate these acts of these criminals.
“We will leave no stone unturned; we will continue to detect their actions as much as possible.
“We are going to ride on the directive of the President to eliminate complete destruction of illegal refineries and eliminate crude oil theft in general.”
The OPDS boss further urged perpetrators of oil theft to desist forthwith, warning that Operation will not rest on its oars in eliminating all forms of criminalities and oil theft in the country.
“The onus is on them (oil thieves) to desist from this crime and turn away from their nefarious ways and embrace the non-kinetic opportunities which the government has emplaced so that we rid this environment of oil theft.”
During his first week of office (Thursday, June 1), President Tinubu directed Service Chiefs and heads of security and intelligence agencies to “crush” perpetrators of oil theft, saying his administration would not tolerate the menace.
Mr Tinubu also said on his watch insecurity would not bring Nigeria to her knees while other countries record achievements in key sectors of their economies.
The President gave the directive during his maiden official meeting with Service Chiefs and intelligence heads, led by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Modupe Gbadeyanka