Oil Theft: Navy Launches Operation ‘Sea Guardian’ With 10 Warships, Helicopters

The Nigerian Navy has launched, “Exercise Sea Guardian,” deploying an impressive fleet of 10 warships and two helicopters to protect its territorial waters in a determined effort to combat the rampant issue of oil theft.

BIGPEN NIGERIA (https://bigpenngr.com) reports that the deployment, code-named “Exercise Sea Guardian,” was announced on Wednesday by Rear Adm. Umar Chugali, the Flag Officer Commanding Central Naval Command.

Chugali said the exercise was aimed at reducing insecurity to its barest minimum in the nation’s territorial waters. He also said that the Navy was working closely with other security agencies to ensure that the exercise was successful.

“So, this joint exercise covering both the defence and the policy roles of the navy consists of 10 ships, two helicopters and over 500 boats for four-days at sea.

“This exercise will be used to exercise and demonstrate the capacity and capability of our ships at sea, to secure Nigeria’s maritime space and the Gulf of Guinea (GoG).

“Overtime, our maritime space has been inundated by some threats both onshore and offshore, hence this joint exercise that was last conducted in 2021,” he said.

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Chugali said the objective of the exercise was to ensure that the maritime environment remained safe, secured, and conducive for socio-economic activities to thrive.

“The deployment of our capital ships and other assets will complement the gains recorded in curbing sea piracy, sea robbery, crude oil theft and other illegalities on our waters.