Gulf of Guinea Focus: Week 33
- Agwe Global
- Aug 14
- 5 min read
The Forward Operating Base (FOB) Escravos of the Nigerian Navy says it has dismantled 10 illegal refining sites in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta. Navy Capt. Ikenna Okoloagu, the Commanding Officer of the FOB Escravos, disclosed this in a statement issued in Warri. Okoloagu said that the illegal refining sites were deactivated in July 2025 at Obodo Omadino Community following a series of coordinated operations, guided by credible information. The naval boss said that the exercise was part of the ongoing Operation DELTA SANITY II. Okoloagu added that the operations aligned with the Strategic Directives of the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla which emphasised sustained pressure on economic saboteurs. “Specifically, on July 1, operatives acting on actionable
intelligence dismantled three illegal refining sites at Obodo Omadino. “The sites contained 7,200 litres of stolen crude oil and 1,575 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO) stored across one oven, 30 dugout pits and 21 polythene sacks. “Subsequently, on July 12, one additional site was dismantled at Oteghele within Obodo Omadino, and 2,300 litres of stolen crude oil stored in five dugout pits were recovered.
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The Nigerian Navy says its its Special Forces deactivated no fewer than 70 illegal refinery sites and confiscated over 400,000 litres of stolen crude oil across the Niger Delta in July 2025 alone. This is contained in a monthly operational update issued by Commodore Ayiwuyor Adams-Aliu, the Director of Naval Information, in Abuja. Adams-Aliu said the intensified operations under the ongoing Operation Delta Sanity, were part of its effort
to curb crude oil theft and other forms of economic sabotage within Nigeria’s maritime domain. According to him, the crackdown led to the discovery and destruction of 120 dugout pits, illegal storage facilities, and various equipment used in crude oil theft and illegal refining across Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, and Akwa Ibom States. He said the Navy denied oil thieves access to about 411,400 litres of crude oil, 87,825 litres of illegally-refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), 72,000 litres of Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK), and 21,900 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). Providing key highlights of the operation, Naval spokesman said the troops had in July 4, discovered and deactivated illegal refining sites with over 66,000 litres of suspected crude and 40,000 litres of refined AGO at Ogba, Egbema, and Ndoni in Rivers.
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The Etsu Nupe and Chairman of the Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, has called on the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to take decisive steps in enforcing waterways safety laws and prosecuting offenders who put lives at risk. This call comes against the backdrop of several recent fatal boat accidents in Niger State
and other parts of the country, which have sparked calls for urgent reform of the inland waterways transport sector. Speaking during an interactive session with Journalists on safety and security concerns in rural water transportation at his palace in Bida, the royal father expressed deep frustration over the recurring loss of lives in boat mishaps, which he said are largely preventable if regulations are adhered to. Alhaji Abubakar decried a
pattern of indiscipline among some boat operators and passengers, including habitual overloading of vessels, transporting goods far beyond capacity, and neglecting the use of life jackets. He warned that these unsafe practices, coupled with a lack of enforcement, continue to cause tragedies on Niger State’s rivers and waterways.
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The Maritime Security Providers Association of Nigeria (MASPAN) has called for deeper collaboration with the Nigerian Navy to strengthen operational efficiency, standardise security protocols, and address delays affecting private maritime security operations in the country. The association’s president, Mr. Emmanuel Maiguwa, made the appeal during
a courtesy visit to the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, NNS Beecroft, Rear Admiral Michael Gregory Oamen in Lagos. The MASPAN delegation met with the naval leadership to present the association’s achievements, interventions, and recommendations for improving Nigeria’s maritime security framework. Maiguwa, who traced
MASPAN’s formation to discussions held with naval officers during the Expanded Gulf of Guinea Maritime Security Conference in 2013, explained that the association was formally registered in 2016 to protect members’ interests, promote professional standards, and support the Nigerian Navy’s efforts in securing the maritime domain.
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The Admiral Superintendent of the Naval Dockyard Limited, Rear Admiral Ibrahim Shehu, has encouraged storytellers to use their craft to propel Nigeria’s maritime narrative onto the global stage. Speaking at the opening of the 2025 Maritime Writes Project Creative Writing Bootcamp, Shehu urged the participants to approach their work with “focus, discipline, and a
deep sense of responsibility.” At the event held at the Naval Dockyard Limited, Victoria IsSheh in Lagos, Shehu described the Naval Dockyard as more than a hub for ship maintenance and construction, but as a nerve centre where engineering precision, skilled craftsmanship, and strategic vision converge to safeguard maritime security and drive the nation’s shipping industry. “This is not just about ships and steel. It is about ideas, expression, and the power of words to shape perceptions, attract investment, and influence policy,” he told the 60 selected participants at the opening ceremony of the 5th Creative Writing Bootcamp. Rear Admiral Shehu expressed optimism that the published literary works could position Nigeria more competitively among the world’s leading maritime nations,
even as he stressed that the blue economy sector is a strategic economic pillar closely tied to industries such as security, fisheries, oceanography, tourism, oil and gas, renewable energy, port logistics, among others.
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Nigeria's defence chief has defended operations against insurgents and criminal gangs that have caused civilian casualties, saying the military is doing what it can to prevent loss of life. Nigeria's military has increasingly used airstrikes against the growing threat of militias in the north and central regions. It has admitted to mistakenly targeting civilians while pursuing
armed gangs in the northwest, where there is widespread insecurity, and has promised to investigate such cases.Defence Chief of Staff General Christopher Musa also called for a review of international laws, arguing that they restrict state forces while leaving non-state actors "who kill at will" unchecked. In rare comments to reporters in the capital Abuja, Musa said the military frequently halts operations to prevent civilian harm, even at the cost of compromising tactical advantages. "We are made to look as if we are committing the worst atrocities ever, but I can assure you that we are doing the best we can. We respect human rights and value civilian lives," he said. "We often abort operations to avoid civilian casualties ... this has, in part, prolonged the conflict."
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