Recent reports by a group, the Niger Delta Renaissance Network, that the Nigerian Navy released a vessel being investigated for allegedly stealing crude oil, are false.
It has been confirmed that the Vessel, MT PRESTIGIOUS WD, is still in the custody of the Nigerian Navy, while samples of its cargo have been collected for testing by an independent laboratory, in line with due process.
The owners of the vessel, Newcross Exploration and Production Limited, have also provided the necessary documentation regarding the approvals and authorization they received to transport crude oil to Bonny Terminal SBM3. In a letter from Newcross to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, the company affirmed receipt of approval to deploy MT PRESTIGIOUS WD to support its legitimate crude oil barging operations to Bonny Terminal.
The oil company also frowned at the false allegations being made against it by “Operation Tantita”, highlighting the economic costs of false allegations made by the private security operatives.
According to a government source: “Every allegation of oil theft is thoroughly investigated by a number of government agencies, including regulators and law enforcement, with a mandatory thorough review of the documentation provided by a suspected vessel, as well as sample testing of the vessel’s contents. It is only on the conclusion of this assessment that a decision can be made regarding clearance.”
Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator and a recipient of the D9112 Superstar Icon Award, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.
