Connect with us

Headlines

How Tantita saves Nigeria $43.2m daily from oil theft – Capt. Warredi Enisuoh ,disagrees with Omatseye on SAA

oil theft from vandalised pipeline
The Eyewitness Reporter
Captain Warredi Enisuoh, the Executive Director, Tantita, a private security and pipelines surveillance contractor with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation(NNPC) has claimed that the company is saving the country a whooping sum of $43.2m daily from oil thieves.
Captain Enisuoh, made this declaration Wednesday, November 29th, 2023, during his presentation at the maiden edition of Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (MARAN) Annual Lecture, in Lagos.
He highlighted the crucial roles of the private security operator even as he noted that dealers in crude oil theft have planted CCTV cameras in creeks to monitor their illicit activities.
“We have places where grass may not grow for the next 100 years because of crude oil theft and associated activities.
” In the past, these operators utilized fire to process the crude oil but they realized that security operators have drones and night vision capabilities to see the fire trails.
“So, they moved to electricity. When they realized we discovered their illicit activities with electricity, they translated to phosphoric acid.
“They pour the crude oil into several drums and pour phosphoric acid and wait for six hours for the acid to convert the crude to diesel that will be fetched from the top.” he declared, illustrating his argument with video and graphics images of the activities of the oil thieves and pipelines vandals.
Warredi, who is also a former Director of Shipping Development at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) observed that having chased most of the perpetrators of crude oil theft away from the land areas, they moved to the creeks to attack oil well heads.
“They connect hoses from the wellheads into their storage. These transactions usually take  place at night as they go to the wellheads with canoes to fetch crude oil without minding the pollution or possibility of a fire outbreak.
” If the pressure isn’t strong enough, they use a reservoir to fetch the oil. Some of these oil connections flow through cassava farms and farm settlements that you wouldn’t suspect to be involved in crude oil theft,” Warredi said.
Speaking on the activities of private security operators in Secure Anchorage Area (SAA), Warredi wondered why a nation would carve out a portion on water like on land and sell it to somebody.
“With SAA, a vessel is entering the place and you say no, you cannot enter here because you did not pay.
” However, the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) declared the right of passage on the waters for vessels?
” Nigeria is a signatory to that law, so I am sorry if I made mistakes at that time with my conviction about SAA.
“Nonetheless, I still stand by it. I will never ever entertain the situation in my country where people will pay to access the waters,” Warredi opined.
However, Captain Warredi Enisuoh position on SAA contrasts sharply with the views of Barrister Temisan Omatseye, a former Director General of NIMASA who argued that since the end of the SAA contract operated by Ocean Marine Solutions Limited (OMSL), foreign vessels spend an average of $50,000 for security patrols in the country.
Omatseye observed that OMSL SAA activities created a degree of comfort for global shipowners and filled a lacuna in securing the anchorage area.
The former NIMASA boss suggested that the Deep Blue Project assets could be deployed to fill the missing role of SAA, stressing that service could be free or at a much-subsidized cost since the former operators were adjudged to be extorting shipowners.
He proposed a Response Zone Transit Corridor concept to create a patrolled transit corridor in the key high-risk areas in the Nigerian exclusive exclusive zone (EEZ).
“A 100 nautical mile transit corridor could be created to support vessels moving in and out of Bonny/Onne/Port Harcourt.
“The corridor will be permanently patrolled by 10 security vessels providing a guaranteed response to an area 50 nautical miles wide and 110 nautical miles long of a maximum of 60 minutes, depending on the location of the incident.
“A drifting area at the outer limit of the transit corridor would replace requirements inshore for secured anchorage.
“The same concept could also cover between Lagos and Escravos areas, giving security guarantee up to 50 nautical miles offshore,” he said.
Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Headlines

May Day: Mobereola salutes maritime workers for passion, dedication to building virile industry 

Gloria Odion,  Maritime reporter 

The Director – General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, has saluted the courage , passion and dedication of maritime workers to building strong and virile industry.
In his message at the Workers’ day on May 1st, 2026, the NIMASA DG extolled the virtues of workers and acknowledged the distinguished service of various stakeholders whose efforts he noted continue to significantly contribute to the development of the Nigerian maritime industry.
Dr. Mobereola, while wishing stakeholders a Happy Workers’ Day said “to all the amazing officers and stakeholders in the maritime sector who bring their passion and expertise to work daily.

“Thank you for your dedication and invaluable contributions”.

He emphasized that as a regulator, the Agency remains committed to its oversight function of regulating maritime labour activities in the industry in line with extant instruments and the expectations of the theme of the 2026 Workers’ Day, which focuses on safety, dignity and productivity.

Continue Reading

Customs

Kaila, Seme Customs CAC, seeks collaboration with stakeholders to achieve seemless trade along border corridor 

Funso OLOJO, Editor
The new Area Controller of the Seme Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Comptroller Abdullahi Kaila, has  reached out to traditional rulers and  sister agencies at the border communities to ensure the achievement of his mandate of detection, determent of smuggling, revenue generation and trade facilitation along the border corridor.
To achieve these objectives, Comptroller Kaila went on tour of the communities within the border corridor where he met and sought for the support and cooperation of major critical stakeholders, including the traditional rulers and sister agencies.
According to him, his objective was to eradicate trade hindrances affecting free movement of goods and services along the Lagos-Abidjan business corridor.
Speaking at the Palace of Oba Akran of Badagry Kingdom, the Customs Area Controller condoled with the royal family and entire people of Badagry kingdom on the passing away of HRM De Wheno Aholu Menu Toyi I who was a well recognized traditional ruler across the border communities.
“”The purpose of my visit is to introduce myself as the Area Controller of Seme Command and to equally seek your royal blessing and support to achieve the core mandate of the service.
“Our priority remains to generate revenue, facilitate trade, and suppress smuggling.
“And we in the Customs believe that without due support and co-operation from traditional rulers, we can not have effective performance of our functions as Customs officers” he said
 The King Regent, Chief Abel Ogunbiyi, who described Kaila as the son of the soil, added that “We have listened to your request.
” Know that Badagry is a very peaceful town, and we will keep collaborating with you in safeguarding our borders and in promoting legitimate trade, ” he stated.
Comptroller Kaila also visited the Onibereko of Ibereko Awori-Kingdom, where the monarch, Oba Israel Okoya, signifies his commitment to fostering the service relationship with residents living within the border  communities
“I welcome you to Badagry and be rest assured that I will always talk to my people whenever the need is required.
” In our town, our youth does not engage in illegalities as I have no other choice than to assist you in achieving the government mandate, ” he mentioned
While at the Palace of Alapa of Apa Kingdom, the king HRM Oba Oyekan Ajose Ilufemiloye commended and described the CAC, Comptroller Kaila as a professional, seasoned and well respected officer as described by indigenes of border communities.
“I promise you that I will always assist you in my area for anything that you need.
“Our border here has been peaceful because our youth always listen to the elders, and I know with your presence here, things will change for the better, ” he said
In his efforts to consolidate on existing synergy between sister security agencies, Kaila also visited Headquarters of 653 Nigerian Air force base, Ahanve-Badagry.
The  Commanding Officer, Group Captain Hungruy  Medugu,expressed the  readiness of the formation to always support the command in achieving its mandate.
“Our collaboration has been key to various successes we have recorded in our area of responsibility.
” Your presence here strengthens existing bonds of inter-agency collaboration between both Services, and we will not take it for granted ,” he said
The Area Controller then ended his familirisation tour with seeking for mutual cooperation with a visit to the Republic of Benin Police office, showing his readiness to eradicate hindrances affecting the free movement of goods and services across the border.
Continue Reading

Headlines

Opeifa decries encroachment on NRC properties across the country 

— praises collaboration with Abia, Enugu govts.
Funso OLOJO, Editor 
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr. Kayode Opeifa, has reiterated his displeasure over the widespread practice of encroachment on the properties of the Nigerian Railways Corporation across the country, warning that such action would not be tolerated by his administration.
Opeifa was speaking during the separate meetings he recently had with the governments of both Abia and Enugu states.
Represented by the Railway District Manager, Eastern District, Mr. Agwonye Francis Ejike, the NRC boss quickly condemned the occupation of the Corporation’s right- of – way by squatters in Umuahia, while correcting the wrongly- held belief that the Railway is defunct.
Opeifa however applauded the cordial and collaborative relationship between the Corporation and the governments of both Abia and Enugu.
According to him, such productive harmony can only yield even greater positive results for the benefit of the people.
During the Umuahia meeting, Dr. Opeifa strongly praised the Abia State Government for its crucial assistance in clearing the NRC’s right-of-way within Umuahia.
 He reiterated unequivocally that no one is permitted to build any structure on railway property without obtaining express approval from his office.
Appealing directly to the public, he urged for greater patience, stressing that the plans for the critical track extension from Aba, through Umuahia to Enugu and beyond, remain very much on course.
Responding on behalf of the Abia State Government, Mr. Kingsley Agomoh stated that the State Government is actively engaging all stakeholders by providing alternative, seamless locations for those currently conducting business on the railway right-of-way.
 He further revealed that the state government has already finalized plans to plant trees along the route, creating a leisurely and aesthetically conducive environment for relaxation, replacing previous commercial activities.
The high-powered team then embarked on an extensive inspection of the alternative relocation site for displaced persons; the demolition site where iron barrier installation is progressing; the Umuahia Central Bus Terminal; the site for the new Umuahia Railway Station; and the route for the proposed link road passing through the existing railway station.
The meeting also explored the provision of a temporary location for the Railway Police and the PTO, pending the construction of the new Umuahia Station, which is designed to include a police station and other NRC offices.
The same impactful message was delivered to Enugu State, where the Commissioner of Transportation, Dr. Obi Ozoh (representing the State Government), equally assured the NRC MD of the Enugu State Government’s unwavering commitment to collaborating with the Corporation to achieve its aims and objectives.
Describing Dr. Opeifa as a personal friend from their private sector days, Dr. Ozoh lauded him as a leader who “knows perfectly well what he is doing.”
He further assured the NRC that the Enugu State Government will actively assist in demolishing any obstruction on the Corporation’s right-of-way, stressing that the state eagerly awaits the flag-off to recommence construction of the rail line from Aba to Enugu and beyond.
Continue Reading

Trending