Opinion
2024: A Full Year Of Fair Winds And Worthy Feats Under Vice Admiral Ogalla
By Musa Ilallah
The Nigerian Navy ended 2024 on a triumphant note across its famed “trinity of action” of surveillance, response capability and law enforcement, under the inspiring leadership of Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, the 22nd indigenous Chief of Naval Staff.
On January 6, 2025, the Navy’s landmark anti-oil-theft operation, Delta Sanity, will celebrate its first anniversary. A week earlier, Vice Admiral Ogalla and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Hieneken Lokpobiri PhD launched the operation’s second phase, which will feature ramped-up aerial surveillance, through Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Armed Attack Drones.
In the 12 months since the launch of Operation Delta Sanity I, Nigeria has seen the intensification of deterrence efforts, arrests, and seizures of stolen products, translating into a noticeable rise in oil production levels, as well as the increasing confidence of operators in the onshore and shallow-water areas most affected by vandalization and theft.
In 2024, Delta Sanity resulted in the arrest of a total of 215 suspects and 26 vessels, and the deactivation of 468 Illegal Refinery Sites, 361 wooden boats, and over a thousand dugout pits. Additionally, an estimated 6.5 million litres of stolen crude oil and 7 million litres of illegally refined diesel were recovered.
Coming at a time when there is increasing interest in these production areas by Nigeria’s independent oil companies, these successes are very welcome and encouraging.
In 2024, the Tinubu Administration approved the transfer of about five sets of onshore/shallow-water oil blocks from IOCs to local independents, who are very bullish with regards to maximizing the production potential of these blocks. What better legacy to bequeath to them, at this time, than an increased assurance of security from maritime thieves and vandals?
Pursuing the vision of a well-equipped maritime force, the Navy in 2024 commissioned three new warships: NNS OCHUZOR, a 35-meter Hydrographic Survey Vessel, and two 32-meter Seaward Defence Boats (NNS ZUR and NNS CHALAWA). In addition, three new helicopters joined the Naval fleet during the year, boosting operational capacity for search and rescue, reconnaissance, among others.
There was also the launching ceremony for the second of two 76-meter Offshore Patrol Vessels being constructed for the Nigerian Navy at the Dearsan Shipyard in Turkey,
Naval infrastructure, a critical element for maintaining morale and operational effectiveness, received the necessary focus during the year, with the completion and commissioning of several projects across the country, ranging from operational buildings to new accommodation for officers and ratings. At the permanent site of the new Forward Operating Base (FOB) Lekki, one of the Navy’s newest bases, construction is advancing impressively. Host communities were not left out, with various impactful interventions targeted at them, including an electrification project in a community in Niger State that has been without electricity for more than 30 years.
Nigeria’s security leadership role in the Gulf of Guinea continued, with the hosting of the 8th Symposium of Heads of Navies and Coastguards of the Gulf of Guinea region in Abuja in November, and the CNS’ prominent participation in the 5th Seapower for Africa Symposium in Cape Town, South Africa (where he delivered the closing remarks), and the 14th Trans-Regional Seapower Symposium in Venice, Italy.
In October, the Naval Dockyard Limited completed work on the first of six warships handed over to it in March for repair and refurbishment by the Benin Republic Navy – a move that highlights the growing technical capabilities of the Nigerian Navy and its readiness to support the navies of other countries. It is worthy of note that the Naval Dockyard is a full-service shipyard setting and maintaining a continental benchmark.
During the year 2024, the Nigerian Navy turned sixty-eight and hosted an International Maritime Conference around the theme of “Promoting the Blue Economy in Africa through International Cooperation on Maritime Security.” Alongside this Conference was a regional maritime exercise, “Abo-Okun”, that brought together navies from across the world, including China, Brazil, and neighbouring countries.
The Navy’s CNS Spikers men’s volleyball team won the 2024 Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Volleyball Premier League title, with its captain, bagging the Most Valuable Player award. The female team came second in the Premier League category. The Spikers have had a most incredible run since they were established in 2021 and have under Vice Admiral Ogalla’s leadership maintained their excellent performance.
In line with tradition, December saw the promotion of 146 senior officers – 24 Commodores to Rear Admiral, 26 Captains to Commodore, and 96 Commanders to the rank of Captain.
One of the saddest moments of the year was the death of Lieutenant Commander Gideon Yashim Gwaza, a hero who tragically passed away in July while leading a rescue mission that succeeded in saving the lives of all 59 crew members on a sinking dredging vessel. It was a very moving moment at the funeral when the Chief of Naval Staff took the stage to comfort the family and assure them of the Navy’s unwavering support.
The final weeks of 2024 also ushered in a new year for the CNS, who turned 56 on the 20th of December. A fitting year-ending celebration for a fine military officer who finished as the best graduating student in the sciences from the prestigious Nigerian Military School (NMS), Zaria, in 1987, and repeated this feat five years later as the best graduating naval cadet in academics, military training, leadership and character, at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna.
Earlier, on the last day of October, Admiral Ogalla had the honour of delivering the Distinguished Annual Public Lecture – “Safeguarding Nigeria’s Blue Economy Potentials: The Role of the Nigerian Navy” – at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, highlighting the significant efforts of the Nigerian Navy in supporting the vision of Nigeria as a global blue economy giant.
It was a moment of poignant significance – the return to campus of someone who, almost forty years earlier, was a teenager weighing a UNN admission offer to study medicine. He ended up choosing a different path, that took him into the hallowed corridors of the Nigerian Defence Academy, and has now led all the way to the highest naval office in what is now shaping up to be the most powerful navy on the African continent.
Ilallah is a public affairs analyst. He can be reached on musahk123@yahoo.com
Heineken Lokpobiri, minister of state for petroleum resources, says the federal government plans to commence implementing the drill-or-drop provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Section 94 of the PIA gives operators a period of three years to begin oil production or relinquish the assets to the federal government.
Speaking during the Cross Industry Group (CIG) meeting held on Tuesday in Florence, Italy, Lokpobiri said it is in the best interest of the country that all inactive wells go to work.
He said the federal government, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, has provided every necessary incentive to ensure international oil companies (IOCs) in Nigeria run smoothly and profitably.
“Now, it is imperative for these industry players to match the government’s efforts with increased investment by announcing final investment decisions (FIDs),” he said.
Furthermore, Lokpobiri discussed “the challenges, expectations, and measures to enhance the sector’s contributions towards domestic energy needs and regional expansion across Sub-Saharan Africa”.
He emphasised that while IOCs have highlighted engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractors as a challenge, “EPCs will not come unless they see strong commitments from industry players”.
“The government has done its part to provide the requisite and investment-friendly fiscals, the ball is now in the court of the IOCs and other operators to make strategic investment decisions that will drive increased production and sustainability in the sector,” he said.
“We must also recognise that domestic crude supply is essential to national energy security. The best solution to this challenge lies in increasing production, which will ensure a balance between domestic supply obligations and external commitments.”
The minister further urged industry players to explore collaborative measures, such as shared resources for contiguous assets and the release of underutilised assets to operators ready to invest in production.
The Progressive Students Movement (PSM), a leading Pan-African student body, has commended the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in Ogun State under Commissioner of Police (CP) Lanre Ogunlowo, PhD, for its commitment to security and community engagement.
In a statement released on Thursday, the President of PSM Nigeria, Comrade Ambassador Okereafor Bestman, highlighted the CP’s efforts in strengthening collaboration between the police, stakeholders, and other security agencies to maintain peace and stability in the state.
“It is worthy of note that CP Lanre Ogunlowo, PhD, has further fostered a harmonious working synergy between the police, stakeholders, and other security agents aimed at ensuring peace and tranquility in Ogun State,” Okereafor said.
The student leader expressed confidence in CP Ogunlowo’s leadership, stating that Ogun State is on track to becoming one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria under his administration.
He also praised the professionalism and dedication of the Ogun State Police Command in tackling crime, regardless of its scale.
Additionally, PSM acknowledged the Ogun State government’s continued support for security agencies, particularly in providing mobility and logistics to enhance their operational efficiency.
The commendation comes at a time when security remains a top priority for residents and authorities in the state, with ongoing efforts to curb crime and ensure public safety.
BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF
On assumption of duty in January, 2025 , the new Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, Boss and well grounded World Bank expert , Aisha Garba envisaged the need to reposition the Basic Education through interfacing with the critical stakeholders.
Amongst them is the office of the National Security Adviser , NSA, led by Malam Nuhu Ribadu whose achievements in the last few years in the area of security has become distinct and outstanding.
Therefore, seeking to cooperate and collaborate with the office became germane and needful particularly the protection of lives and properties of actors in the promotion of Basic Education ranging from the pupils , teachers , workers and facilitators to enable it drive the new wave to curb Out of School Children OOSC in the country.
Aside providing the basic security arrangements for schools , the need to engage the security apparatus at the level of National Security Adviser NSA became needful, so as to address the sophistry of security problems in the country, to nip in the bud any unforseen circumstances.
With the high rates of kidnappings, abduction , banditry, cattle rustling, ritual tendencies among many other vices, the idea of bringing on board , the security architecture of the country in all ramifications will assist the commission to consolidate the implementation of Basic Education policies and programs, also introduce new ones .
Since pupils at the Primary, Junior Secondary and Secondary Schools are prone to such ugly development and security issues , the need to be proactive on the part of the commission became timely and desiring.
This led to the success story of the bilateral interface between the management of the commission and NSA, to streamline, perfect and chart a new course on the issue of security of actors in the Basic Education.
The visit described as timely and long overdue, discussed fruitfully the way forward and the immediate and long term intervention of both agencies in the area of collaboration.
According to the Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission UBEC, Dr Aisha Garba she stated by discussing” strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing educational access and security in Nigeria. ”
She further said” the engagement focused on strategies to address challenges such as the safety of schools, particularly in vulnerable regions, and the promotion of equitable education for all children.”
“the meeting highlighted the critical intersection between education and national security and the need for collaboration between UBEC and Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), on improving access to basic education and safety of safety schools across the nation. ”
“This collaboration underscores the government’s commitment to fostering a secure and inclusive learning environment as part of its broader agenda to strengthen the nation’s educational framework,” it added.
“UBEC boss had pledged to engage critical stakeholders to break down barriers to education and create inclusive learning opportunities for children across the six geopolitical regions of the country.”
“She said: “My goal is to deliver on this mandate which includes strengthening collaboration, partnerships and institutional learning for effective service delivery. ”
“Together, we will work to increase access, improve quality, provide conducive and safe learning environments, supply adequate teaching and learning materials, and adopt the concept of ‘best fit’ in addressing specific basic education challenges, state by state and region by region”.
Highlights of the program which included the engagement of both bodies with a commitment to ensure the introduction of security architecture in schools in Nigeria is achievable.
Written BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF on yus.abubakar3@gmail.com.