The Commander, Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation DELTA SAFE, Rear Admiral Apochi Suleiman said that maritime threats to Nigeria’s economy peaked up in the middle of 2016 which catalyzed the Federal Government decision to retool the security framework in the Niger Delta region. He made this remarks at the National Defence College Abuja, when he delivered a lecture entitled ‘’Operation DELTA SAFE and Maritime Security in the Niger Delta: Challenges and Strategic Options”. He reiterated that Operation DELTA SAFE was activated on 24 June 2016 to reinvigorate government’s efforts at stemming the broad security challenges that threatened the nation’s economy and national security in the Niger Delta region.

 

 

The Commandant NDC Rear Admiral AA Osinowo Presenting A Souvenir to

The Commander Joint Task Force Operation Delta Safe Rear Admiral Suleiman During

The Commanders Visit To NDC

 

 

 

Admiral Suleiman highlighted that the Joint Operations Area (JOA) of the Task Force has since evolved and it covers the entire Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers and Ondo states. He further said that parts of Edo State were recently added to the JOA due to the contiguous threats in the maritime areas of Edo State. The Commander JTF Operation Delta SAFE buttressed that the mandate of the Task Force is to protect oil and gas infrastructure and deter militancy, sea robbery, crude oil theft and other forms of criminalities within the JOA that could impact negatively on economic activities in the Niger Delta and the Nation at large.

 

L-R DNGA Amb Kunle Adeyanju, Commandant NDC Rear Admiral Adeniyi Osinowo

CommanderOPDS Rear Admiral Apochi Suleiman andDeputy Commandant and

Director of Studies Maj Gen Peter Dauke After The JTF Commander’s Lecture At NDC

 

Relatively, the commander operation DELTA SAFE emphasized that the proliferation of wooden cargo boats, popularly known as ‘Coutonu Boats’ construction in the JOA is largely in response to the rate of their use in criminalities. He reiterated the rate of destruction of these boats being used in criminalities, which has equally encouraged a corresponding increase in their construction within the JOA. He however, explained that the construction of the boats is not illegal but the lack of regulations guiding their manufacturing and use, is a threat to anti-illegal bunkering operations of the Task Force. He however, commended the Delta State government for drafting an executive bill to regulate the manufacturing and use of the boats in the state. He further solicits ongoing effort to extend this noble initiative to other states in the Niger Delta.

 

Similarly, the Commandant, National Defence College, Rear Admiral Adeniyi Osinowo call on participants of NDC Course 26 as the major beneficiaries of the lecture to take cognizance of what security is as a gamut. He therefore eulogized the commander Joint Task Force Operation DELTA SAFE for his erudite lecture delivered.