On January 6, 2024, Vice Admiral EI Ogalla, the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), inaugurated Operation DELTA SANITY, aimed at combating crude oil theft in Nigeria. This initiative aligned with the directive of the President and Commander-in-Chief to eliminate crude oil theft and bolster the country’s production for economic advancement.
Operation DELTA SANITY was strategically devised as a pivotal anti-crude oil theft endeavor, deploying Nigerian Navy personnel, platforms, helicopters, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for robust surveillance and interdiction activities across the Niger Delta region.
Commands, units, and bases were instructed to conduct both kinetic and non-kinetic operations to curtail maritime criminal activities. The operation effectively restricted the freedom of action for oil thieves and vandals across various parts of the Niger Delta, resulting in the recovery of substantial quantities of stolen products and the dismantling of illegal refining sites.
From Bayelsa to Ondo, Rivers to Akwa Ibom States, and beyond, the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to eradicating crude oil theft was evident through the seizure of stolen products and the apprehension of suspects.
Operation DELTA SANITY’s achievements thus far include the seizure of 95 wooden boats, deactivation of 119 storage tanks and refining ovens, closure of 447 dugout pits, deactivation of 120 illegal refining sites, confiscation of 13 fibre boats and 9 vehicles, as well as the arrest of 74 suspects and 14 vessels involved in illicit activities.
Initially scheduled for a duration of 90 days, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral EI Ogalla, announced the extension of Operation DELTA SANITY for another 90 days on Thursday, April 25, 2024, at the Nigerian Navy Ship PATHFINDER in Port Harcourt. This extension underscores the Nigerian Navy’s unwavering commitment to combatting crude oil theft and ensuring maritime security in the Niger Delta region.
