The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and Nigerian Navy (NN) have re-strategised their operations in a combined effort to combat illegal activities along the Nigerian water ways, during a recent joint maritime operation codenamed “OPERATION SAUKAN MIKIYA”.
The illegal activities which include crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism that often result to environmental pollution, loss of lives/property and huge losses in accruable revenue to the government, according to a statement by Air Commodore Dele Alonge, Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Airforce, would soon become a thing of the past.
The two-day operation was held between September 3-4 around Port Harcourt, Brass River, Bonny River and seawards up to the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
During the exercise, the Nigerian Navy deployed some patrol boats along the creeks of Bonny and Brass Rivers, while the NNS CENTENARY and NNS OKPABANNA were also positioned at the entry points into the rivers respectively to monitor and block suspicious vessels within the creeks and the high sea.
The Nigerian Air Force using its ATR 42 Maritime Patrol Aircraft was tasked to locate suspicious vessels within the creeks and high sea as well as to report positions, names and other details to NNS OKPABANNA which was the air control ship for the exercise.
The overall objective of the exercise, according to the statement, was to enhance the security of Nigerian coastal resources and off shore interests by assessing the capabilities of the NAF and NN in terms of monitoring and apprehending erring vessels which are essential components of maritime security.
Air Commodore Alonge said that at the successful completion of the exercise, the much needed synergy between the NAF and NN was achieved as visual contact and communication were established with NNS OKPABANA and NNS CENTENARY.
“The NAF ATR 42 also monitored from the coast into the sea and using Aeronautical Information System (AIS) to view into high sea up to EEZ.
“The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Baba Abubakar has also used the occasion to assure Nigerians that despite the serious involvement of the Nigerian Air Force in the war against insurgency in the North-East all necessary support to stamp out illegal activities along the Nigerian water ways by the Nigerian Navy would be given as the need arises,” the statement stressed.
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