The Nigerian Navy has announced that its Operation Delta Sanity, currently active in the Niger Delta, has significantly curbed crude oil theft and boosted the nation’s economy.
Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, disclosed this during the graduation of participants of the Naval Warfare Course 9 in Calabar.
He assured that the Navy would build on the progress achieved so far and urged the graduating officers to remain vigilant in safeguarding the country’s maritime domain.
“We have 52 of our personnel who were trained in August 2024 and have been deployed to various oil platforms to curb crude oil theft.
I believe this has contributed to the continuous rise in crude oil production reported in recent months.
Our Operation Delta Sanity has led to arrests of many criminals and created a situation where those criminals now find it difficult to operate,” Ogalla said.
According to him, the operation has restricted the ability of criminal networks to move freely in the maritime space. He further acknowledged the contributions of the Nigerian Army, Air Force, Police, sister agencies, and other partners, noting that their collaboration has helped increase national revenue, restore investor trust, and strengthen oil industry transparency.
The Naval Chief also advised the new officers to put their training into practice, stressing the service’s ongoing commitment to professional growth and capacity development.
Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State, represented by his deputy, Dr. Peter Odey, praised the Navy for restoring calm to the state’s waterways and curbing criminal activities. He noted that the Navy’s efforts had made previously unsafe areas more secure, cutting off escape routes exploited by kidnappers and improving public confidence.
“We are committed to strengthening collaboration with the Navy and other security agencies in promoting safety, investment, and development across our coastal communities. Cross River State remains a willing partner in all efforts to secure our nation,” Odey said.
He also highlighted the importance of military education in building a safer and more prosperous country.
Rear Admiral Akinola Olodude, Commandant of the Naval War College, said the course was made possible through partnerships with institutions such as the European Union office in Abuja, the University of Calabar, the Nigerian Army and Air Force war colleges, the Nigerian Defence Academy, and the Republic of Cameroon.
He expressed gratitude to the governments of Delta and Andoni River states, Cameroon, and Côte d’Ivoire for their support during study tours and operational visits.
Course Coordinator, Capt. Suleiman Abdullahi, explained that Naval Warfare Course 9 began in January with 30 participants drawn from the Navy, other services, the National Defence College, and international partners from Ghana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Cameroon.
He said the eight-month programme covered areas such as leadership, maritime and military strategy, as well as field operations. The curriculum included inter-agency seminars, environmental studies, operational visits, and the joint Exercise Skylock 2025 in Abuja. Participants, he added, were thoroughly assessed through examinations, exercises, and research projects—all of which they successfully completed
