The Nigerian Navy has impounded a 40meters length wooden boat carrying about 65,000 litres of petroleum products suspected to be diesel or crude oil from bunkerers on the River Niger.
Addressing a press conference in Lokoja, the Commander, NNS Lugard, Commodore Shuwa Muhammed, said that the boat was discovered at a mash area on River Niger around Lokoja by his command while on patrol from Baro, Niger State to Lokoja and Idah in Kogi State.
According to Shuwa, no arrest was made because as at the time of the discovery, the boat was abandoned by the bunkeres due to intensive patrol around the area by his men.
He, however, stated that the seized products would be handed over to the officials of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for test to determine the type of product while the boat would be destroyed with all the equipment.
After the press briefing, the Commander led officials of the NNPC and journalists to the site were the boat containing the substance was kept, and some documents were also signed by the NNPC officials.
The Naval Commander said that the Federal Government policy as well as the directive from the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin, on zero tolerance for oil theft and illegal bunkering on Nigerian waters would be enforced with a view to eradicate the menace, which has led to significance loss in revenue for the Federal Government.
