A socio-cultrual group, Ohaneze Think-Thank, has called on the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, to collaborate with private security companies that were contracted by the federal government to undertake surveillance of the nation’s oil pipelines.
The group said such synergy would be to national interest and benefit of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration in meeting Nigeria’s crude oil production quota.
In an open letter addressed to the Chief of Naval Staff, the group urged him to resist attempts by some elements with the navy to pitch him against pipeline Surveillance contractors.
The letter signed by the group’s Coordinator, Dr. Azubuike Ajuluchukwu and Deputy Coordinator,
Dr. Cletus Akunyili, said the private security companies are responsible for the current peace and economic growth in the nation’s waterways.
The group observed that prior to the engagement of the private security companies, crude oil thieves and their collaborators were stealing the country’s resources without checks by Naval personnel.
It noted further that the recruitment of firms such as Tantita Security Services limited saved the economy from total collapsing.
“The last 8 years have been traumatic and painful for citizens of this nation. The period foisted a harrowing pattern of experiences on citizens, who bear the brunt of an unpredictable, ever oscillating socio – political environment fraught with a wobbling economy.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government, sadly enough, still carries the hangover of the last administration.
“It struggles furtively daily to grapple with a completely damaged system left behind by the last administration.
” The systemic rot is so debilitatingas it seems almost impossible to peel off.
“The impediments cannot be left to fester and stagnate the progress of the nation, denying citizens the good life they are entitled.
“The Nigerian Navy, which you lead, has a significant role to play in the survival of the nation and in clearing the problem under review, the two key determinants of national growth are the economy and security”, it added.
“As a long serving Naval officer, you are quite conversant with the Navy’s operations, yet we must refresh your mind on some issues.
” Before your elevation to the position of Chief of Staff, the Naval component of the nation’s security architecture failed abysmally to deliver on its mandate, to which you know in details and can’t be swept under the carpet.
“Either through deliberate negligence or connivance with dubious entities to undermine the national interest, the impotence of the Nigerian Navy was established, to the disappointment of the last administration.
“With no external wars to fight and a reduced insecurity in the Niger Delta, the Navy had nothing to do, except to keep surveillance over oil assets of the nation round the clock.
“The Navy, however, failed in this singular task.
“The nation’s waterways became so porous that local and international oil thieves had a free run and infact flourished.
“At the time President Goodluck Jonathan’s left office, crude production was over 2 million barrels per day.
“Six years into President Muhammadu Buhari’s two terms, production fell drastically below 700, 000 barrels per day.
” It wasn’t classified information, Nigeria could no longer foot her bills. This dire situation prompted the administration to go cap in hand to procure both local and foreign loans to run the government.
“It was on this premise that the Federal Government sought private security companies to protect the nation’s oil assets in the Niger Delta.
“Put yourself on a detached position and observe the scenario, has the foregoing spoken well of the Navy?
“The Nigerian Navy has through omission and/or commission failed to uphold the national interest.
“With your appointment as Chief of Naval Staff, Nigerians were hopeful that it would herald an era for a new beginning.
“That you will bring discipline, professionalism, competence and seriousness to bear on the job.
“Sadly, this hope was dashed as your appointment, however, hasn’t brought the expected improvements and anticipated change in the psyche of your men.
“The same old story of wanton irresponsibility and lack of dedication to duty by men of the Navy still subsists.
“The Navy you lead today carries the same old burden, which held down the nation.
“Rather than support the efforts of the three security companies contracted by the federal government to keep surveillance over oil facilities, the Navy is said to be hell bent in creating impediment in their paths, just to tarnish their reputation and have their contracts revoked.
“The companies, Tantita Security Services Limited ( TSSL) and Pipelines Infrastructures Limited under the supervision of Inter – Atlas Synergy, have all cried out over Naval sabotage of their operations in the nation’s waters.
“The government appears inept to clip the wings of the elements in the Navy responsible for the arrant nonsense.
“While the Nigerian Army, the Airforce and other security agencies have abided with the directive to work alongside the private security firms, the Navy has remained adamant.
“And it has consistently put spanners in their work.
“This goes against the grains of national interest, to which the Navy owes absolute allegiance.
“The interpretation obtained from the Navy’s resistance and stubbornness is found in its ego.
“The directives to civil bodies to compliment its assignments seem to eat away at its bloated ego.
“If from the onset, the Navy had performed its role credibly well, alternatives won’t have been sought by the federal government.
“The Navy must pay the price for negligence on duty.
“It must accept to work side by side with the civil security firms.
“The contracting of the civil organizations brought improvement in crude production.
“As at today, production has gone up from a paltry 650,000 barrels per day to about 1.7 million barrels per day.
“If the Navy’s resistance is removed, production could climb to over 2.0 million barrels per day, as it was in 2015. And government would no longer look for loans to support her activities.
“Oil revenue is the major source of finance for government. If production is maximally maintained, the economy will jumpstart.
“The oil majors pretend innocence, meanwhile they are known to be deeply enmeshed in the hanky panky game of oil theft in collaboration with the Navy and unscrupulous officials of NNPCL.
“Sir, impeccable investigation by this body has also revealed that the private security providers have assumed the responsibility of engaging in enlightenment programmes of local communities on behalf of the Federal Government, on the need to shun gangs that approach them for cooperation in oil theft, no matter how mouth watering the inducement.
“The awareness campaigns were aimed at re-awakening the consciousness of the inhabitants of the host communities on the dangers of involvement in practices associated with oil theft .
“These concerted efforts have made villagers to decline to help and support the economic saboteurs.
“Besides, we also gathered that these private security outfits have supported locals to return to their age long occupation of fishing and farming, through financial gifts, purchase of fishing nets and other gears needed for their occupation.
“As if the private security providers envisaged and had the premonition of the vision of Mr. President,
the restoration of the aquatic life boosted the Renewed Hope Agenda for the host oil producing communities of the Niger Delta.
“As clearly elucidated in the RENEWED HOPE AGENDA of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the private security providers have created an acquatic industry and food security chains in the host communities of the Niger Delta inline with Mr. President’s New Year day speech and agenda on January 1st, 2024.
“This was achieved as pollution in the waterways were cleaned due to reduction in the operations of the oil buccaneers.
“Also to be noted is the mass demolition of illegal crude refining camps that dotted the region.Their operators were discouraged from returning to the business.
“Hitherto, their activities generated black soothes emitted into the atmosphere during local refining, which contaminated the atmosphere and created environment heath hazards such as lung cancer and other diseases amongst the locals.
“It’s heart-warming to note that the Port Harcourt sky hitherto permeated with smug and soothes has since the private security agencies commenced operations, gradually cleared up.
“The private security firms have provided commendable surveillance on the nation’s oil assets.
“The improvement in production attests to their efforts.The only challenge they have is the non co – operation of the Nigerian Navy.
“The Navy has to purge itself of unfounded anger and work with them to enhance production.
“Nigerians of goodwill must intervene and prevail on the Navy to support the federal government’s decision to incorporate civil security organizations to assist in securing oil facilities across Niger Delta.
“According to the celebrated literary icon, Chinua Achebe, if the eagle must perch, the pigeon must also be allowed to perch. One should not impede the work of the other.
“The nation needs all hands on deck to move it forward this new year.”
