In a significant stride towards safeguarding Nigeria’s economic interest, Operation WATER GUARD, activated by the Nigerian Navy last week to combat illicit activities, has yielded a major breakthrough.
Naval officers, leveraging the operation’s electro-optic facilities and air assets, successfully discovered and dismantled multiple depots where thousands of jerrycans both empty and filled with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) were stockpiled.
The Guardian gathered that the operation held on November 15, followed the detection of these illegal depots located in Iyaafin and Itsalu communities within the Badagry inland area and adjoining creeks along the Nigeria-Benin Republic boundary.
Addressing newsmen, yesterday, Commander Joint Task Force Operation AWATSE/Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral M. B Hassan, said the swift and thorough action led to the discovery of large number of illicitly stored petroleum products as well as empty jerrycans prepared for future storage of products.
According to him, his men combed through houses, schools, and recreational centres in these communities for the discovery.
Expressing concern over the potential hazards posed by these activities, Rear Admiral Hassan urged regulatory authorities to urgently review operations of petrol stations within the communities.
He stressed that such intervention was crucial to preventing nefarious activities and avoiding the risk of catastrophic fires that could have dire consequences on life and property.
The commander further assured the public that the confiscated products would be safely evacuated, while patrols would be intensified to curtail further economic sabotage.
“This operation underscores the Nigerian Navy’s steadfast commitment, under the district leadership of Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, to maritime security and the eradication of illicit activities within the nation’s maritime domain for the economic prosperity of Nigeria,” he added.
