The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft has uncovered an illegal fuel depot with about 65,000 litres of Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO) in Lagos.
This was revealed by Commodore Rafiu Taye Oladejo,The Commander of NNS Beecroft while briefing journalists in Lagos.
According to him, The discovery followed intelligence received by the Base that a gas tanker was seen loading at Elegushi Beach, a revelation which necessitated the deployment of NNS Beecroft Quick Response Team to the location, leading to the eventual discovery and arrest of the suspects.
While handing over the suspects and recovered products to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) at Silver Bird Road, Ilasun in Lekki, yesterday, the commander said the suspects operated an unregistered company, Ahmed Ariyo Sons Nigeria Limited, in a residential neighbourhood.
He said Ariyo, two sisters and other suspects were running an illegal family business without a care for the safety of others.
The commander further disclosed that the illegal fuel depot contained eight storage tanks of 50,000 litres capacity each, laden with about 57,000 litres of AGO; a tanker laden with about 7,000 litres; a bus with 30 jerry cans laden with about 1,500 litres.
An estimation of the total capacity of the storage facility found in the apartment, revealed that the eight storage tanks if filled with AGO will be about 400,000 litres which is approximately N500 million. The total quantity of products discovered was about 65,000 litres of AGO which is estimated to be about N89 million based on the current price of AGO which is ₦1,350 per litre.
Oladejo further explained that preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects possibly got the products through pipeline vandalism, illegal vendors at sea as well as other illegal means along the coastline.
When Asked if there were other collaborators, Oladejo said: “It cannot be a one-man show. However, we are not relenting to tackle oil theft in all ramifications in consonance with the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla’s directives to stamp oil theft out of the maritime environment.”
