By OKOSUN DENNIS
The Nigerian Navy confiscated crude oil and diesel worth about N420 billion in 2016 according to the Chief of the Naval Staff, (CNS) Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas.
Defending his 2017 budget at the House of Representatives, the CNS who gave details of the seizures, explained that the specific quantity of crude oil and diesel stood at 810,725 and 1,078 metric tons respectively.
Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, while giving a breakdown of the achievements of the Service in 2016, revealed that the Nigerian Navy destroyed 181 illegal refineries, 263 wooden boats, 38 barges, 139 Geepee tanks, 148 pumping machines, arrested 784 suspects, 22 crude vessels, 53 wooden boats, 145 outboard engines, 135 speed boats, 27 tankers, seized 2,974 drums and recovered 468 arms, and 1,659 ammunitions in 2016.
In addition, the NN also confiscated 210 storage tanks, 47 vehicles, 15 motorcycles, 4,753 jerrycans, 27 power generating sets, 224 surface tanks, 24 hoses, 17 welding machines and 33 other vessels.
He reiterated that the feat was achieved despite the reduction in overhead with only N2.5bn released out of about N3.4bn appropriated in 2016.
He said out of the N56.463 billion appropriated for personnel cost in 2016, N49.656bn was released, while the sum of N205.879 million was generated as Internally Generated Revenue and remitted to government via the Treasury Single Account (TSA).
The acting Director of Information, (DINFO) Navy Captain Suleman Dahun said the NN plan in 2017, is to expend about N26.446 billion on capital projects with the priority areas listed as fleet renewal, operational infrastructure upgrade, operational logistics procurement, capacity development and personnel welfare.
On his part, the Chairman House Committee on Navy, Honourable Abdulsamad Dasuki commended the Nigerian Navy for performing credibly despite insufficient funds and other operational challenges. He promised the committee would ensure adequate allocation of fund for the maintenance and fuelling of Nigerian Navy platforms.
The Chairman however, observed that an estimated N3trillion ($10bn) was lost in revenue due to Nigerian Navy’s inability to carry out statutory duties, reiterating that the Navy’s budgetary allocations must be realistic.