The National Assembly intends to introduce new laws to dismantle the exclusive control of the Nigeria Navy (NN) over the patrol and security operations in the country’s maritime zones, specifically the expansive blue water and deep sea areas where the valuable economic resources of the nation in the oil and gas sectors are situated.
This step would create an opportunity for incorporating privately owned security firms in the responsibility of safeguarding the nation’s offshore oil and gas resources situated in the vast open ocean.
During the weekend, Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa, chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Upstream, revealed this information. He led his colleagues, who were representatives from seven relevant oil and gas committees of the House, on an inspection of the two oil bunkering vessels – MT KALI and HARBOR SPIRIT. These vessels were seized by Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL), which is headed by a former militant commander in the Niger Delta known as Chief Government Ekpemupolo, or Tompolo.
The seizure occurred in collaboration with the special task force established by Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, Chief of Naval Staff, and consisting of all government security agencies (GSAs). The inspection took place at Oporoza in the Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta state.
The 26 federal lawmakers were accompanied on the visit and briefed on the activities leading to the arrest of the vessels by Tantita’s executive director, operations/technical services, Warriedi Enisuoh.
