The Nigerian Navy has stated that the vessel captured by Tantita Security Services Limited was not carrying stolen crude oil.
The Director of Naval Information, Commodore Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, made this announcement on Sunday in Abuja.
The 1,117-tonne ship, which was carrying roughly 8,100 barrels of petroleum, was intercepted on Wednesday by Tantita Security Outfit, a private security firm controlled by Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority had given MT Praisel the go-ahead to load 1,114,721 liters of High Pour Fuel Oil from Greenmac Energy Storage/Tarus Jetty Koko between July 26 and August 2023, according to the Navy.
The product on-board MT PRAISEL revealed qualities commensurate with the Nigerian industry standard specification for HPFO, according to Ayo-Vaughan, who cited the results of the laboratory analysis conducted by all agencies, including NMDPRA.
Therefore, this outcome demonstrates that the allegation and suspicion were completely false, unjustified, and maybe malicious. The intelligence report that TSSL claimed to have gotten regarding the ship and its cargo is also incorrect.
This one incident highlights TSSL’s haughtiness and unprofessional behaviour, with all of the detrimental effects it has on the product seller and purchaser.
“Additionally, it has detrimental effects on the vessel used to transport the cargo and other parties participating in the legal activity.”
Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd. argued that the Navy’s declaration was a cover-up, although admitting that the goods on the vessel was not stolen crude oil.
Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd. questioned the Navy’s assertion in light of differences between the port of discharge designated by NMDPRA as Bonny, the port of discharge identified in the Navy’s press release as Lagos Offshore, and the naval clearance, which designates Koko as storage.
Tantita urged the establishment of a single clearing house for all clearances in order to maintain transparency and give each government agency access to material that has already been approved by others.
Topolo stated: “On August 1, 2023, Tantita received reliable intelligence information indicating that a vessel that had acquired NMDPRA authorization to transfer HPFO from Koko to Lagos Offshore would continue in the opposite direction.
Tantita agents approached the MT PRAISEL on August 2, 2023, as it was passing through a creek in Delta, off the Benin River.
In addition to the commanders and crew members of Operation Delta Safe, there were also members of the Navy on board the Tantita.
“The intelligence indicated that the ship should be headed for Lagos, but the master of the ship demonstrated that he was headed for Bonny.”
Ayo-Vaughan reaffirmed the Nigerian Navy’s dedication to helping counteract economic sabotage and combat crude oil theft within the bounds of the law and in accordance with the highest standards of professional conduct.
He emphasized the need for all parties involved to take appropriate precautions in order to prevent needless impediments to legitimate commercial activities and businesses in the maritime environment.
