On December 30, 2024, the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources – Oil, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, flagged off Operation Delta Sanity II at the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The initiative builds on the successes of Operation Delta Sanity I, which was launched in January 2024 by the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, as part of a major anti-crude oil theft effort.
Operation Delta Sanity I deployed personnel, patrol boats, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles for aggressive surveillance and interdiction in the Niger Delta. This aligned with the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to eradicate crude oil theft and boost Nigeria’s oil production.
The operation yielded significant results in 2024, including the arrest of 215 suspects and 26 vessels, the deactivation of 468 illegal refinery sites, and the seizure of 6.5 million litres of stolen crude oil and 7 million litres of illegally refined Automated Gas Oil. Additionally, 361 wooden boats, 1,107 dugout pits, and 279 storage tanks were destroyed.
Senator Lokpobiri credited these successes with raising Nigeria’s crude oil production to approximately 1.8 million barrels per day. Commending the Nigerian Navy for its achievements, he urged further efforts to increase production.
Vice Admiral Ogalla emphasized that Operation Delta Sanity II would build on its predecessor’s accomplishments by enhancing aerial surveillance with advanced Maritime Domain Awareness infrastructure, unmanned aerial vehicles, and armed attack drones.
The operation will also incorporate non-kinetic measures, foster greater collaboration with sister security agencies and stakeholders, and aim to increase crude oil production to over 2 million barrels per day.
The Chief of the Naval Staff called on all participating commands, units, and establishments to work diligently toward achieving the operation’s objectives. He also expressed profound gratitude to President Tinubu for his unwavering support of the Nigerian Navy.
