The continuous seizure of MT PRAISEL, MT KALL, MT TURA, MT VANNALARIS vessels has elicited the support of the civil society for peace, security and development (CSPSD).

CSPSD led by Mr Obadiah Ovye at a press conference in Abuja argued that the development spoke volume of the resolve by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla to deal with saboteurs and oil thieves in the country.

The group argued that the case of MT PRAISEL, MT KALI,  cited by Ogalla’s antagonists has only gone to expose the ignorance of those behind this malicious media attacks against him.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Nigerian Navy has clear procedural requirements in the arrest, detention and release of any vessel or persons found culpable of any crime in the maritime environment,” it noted.

” It is until these processes are duly concluded that such vessels are released to appropriate prosecuting agencies for further actions. This is what the Nigerian Navy is doing but the owners of such vessels misinform the public about true state of affairs.

“This is malicious and a calculated attempt to tarnish the good image and reputation of the Chief of Naval Staff as well as the entire Nigerian Navy.

The group maintained that the Nigerian Navy has a reputation of due diligence and there’s no way the Chief of Naval Staff will award or oversee oil bunkering contracts.

“We therefore urge Nigerians, to disregard the antics of saboteurs and their sponsors who are fighting to have a change of leadership at the Navy to someone they can manipulate.”

The group thereby passed a vote of confidence on the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla over the ongoing effort to restore sanity to our maritime domain.