The Chief of Defense Staff, Air Chief Marshal, Alex Badeh and other Service Chiefs on Tuesday in Yenagoa inaugurated 30 gunboats for the Joint...
The Chief of Defense Staff, Air Chief Marshal, Alex Badeh and other Service Chiefs on Tuesday in Yenagoa inaugurated 30 gunboats for the Joint Task Force, Operation Pulo Shield.
Speaking at the ceremony, Badeh, said that the fight against oil thieves will receive a boost with the 30 gunboats fitted with communications gadgets.
The Defense Chief commended President Goodluck Jonathan for providing adequate equipment to the armed forces for the discharge of their constitutional role of securing the country.
Speaking at the event, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, Governor of Delta and Chairman of the National Economic Council Committee against Oil Theft said that the three tiers of government resolved to increase funding to secure oil assets.
He commended the armed forces deployed to the JTF who work in difficult terrain in the Niger Delta.
He appealed to community leaders to step up advocacy against the activities of oil thieves and pipeline vandals.
“We should come out clear and engage those involved in stealing crude, they are our people and we still have challenge with oil thieves,” Uduaghan said.
Uduaghan solicited to support of the international community to end oil theft as 80 percent of stolen crude end up refined internationally.
He said that if there was no international destination for stolen crude, oil theft will be wiped out.
Also speaking the JTF Commander Maj.-Gen Emmanuel Atawe said that the gunboats delivery has boosted the morale of the troops.
He said that the Task Force has impounded 197 vessels, and destroyed more than 500 illegal refineries within the past one year.
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