The United States on Friday warned that the Nigerian economy remains under great threat due to criminal activities in the Niger Delta and the threats by militants to resume bombing of oil facilities in the region.

Commander of the United States Naval Forces in charge of Europe and Africa, Admiral Michelle Howard, said this few days after the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) declared that Nigeria was out of recession.

Presenting the US Presidential Medal of Honour to Nigeria’s Deputy Military Attachee to the US, Navy Captain Kolawole Oguntuda, at the Naval Headquarters in Abuja, Howard said: “Oil extraction and production accounts for 75% of Nigeria’s revenue with the vast majority of oil infrastructure existing off shore or really close inshore.”

“So terrorism, criminal networks, illegal bunkering with damages of oil pipeline directly threatens Nigeria economy.

“That is where navies come in. I, as the commander, regards the Nigerian Navy as a key regional partner in securing the Gulf of Guinea seek to strengthen our relationship by assisting in economic security and enhancing regional stability.”

Speaking, the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas assured that the Nigerian Navy was ready and capable of containing threats posed by the Niger Delta militants.

“We actually don’t need people from outside to tell us how strategic Nigerian Navy is in securing our environment, maritime space and the Gulf of Guinea”, he said.

“The maritime environment has seen a spate of piracy attacks, robbery, especially last year. We also saw some elements of resource theft, including illegal fishing in our waters, human trafficking, arms trafficking as well as drug trafficking, not to mention waste dumbing and environmental concerns.

“The strategic role Nigeria plays is what has brought in America. For the threats you mentioned in the Niger Delta, one thing I want to assure you is that so long as human beings exist, there will always be conflicts, and once there are conflicts, there would always be ways of resolving those conflicts.

“For Nigerian Navy, we will continue to build our capacity and capabilities to enable us contain such threats.

“If Nigeria is the main concern to look at in the sub-region, Nigeria therefore becomes an important country for those who have interest in this region, to come and have conversation to see how they can enhance the maritime law enforcement agencies.

“US government has always been offering us support. The sea do not belong to any particular individual, they are global commons, and transnational crimes that occur, means that from one country to the other, your security can be compromised if the sea space is not properly governed.

“So, for US, wherever they have interest, they are ready to provide the needed support. And I think it stands for Nigeria also, where we have to ensure that the Gulf of Guinea is secured, including the security of neighbouring states.”

Source: http://dailypost.ng/2017/09/09/nigerias-economy-great-threat-us/amp/

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OK decent work going on. Nigerian Navy gets training From British Navy and US Navy. It's interesting about Vice Admiral Ibas comment suggest Nigeria wants great role policing Maritime waters all over Gulf of Guinea. They should hurry up seeing all manner of crime happens in our waters.

Congrats to Captain Kolawole Oguntuda. It's seems like he's usually doing good work. Anytime his name pops up in news. If you guys are wondering who making threats to oil installations it's Reform Niger Delta Avengers and some other militant groups.

Nigerian govt just talking as usual. They told you what the problem is and you are saying well there is always conflict. How about show us how you intend to resolve the conflict and other security challenges facing the country instead they are speaking 'grammar'.

Buhari will know no peace

davidif:
Nigerian govt just talking as usual. They told you what the problem is and you are saying well there is always conflict. How about show us how you intend to resolve the conflict and other security challenges facing the country instead they are speaking 'grammar'.

There's no big solution. Just get more equipment tackle the issue. Cooperate more with countries in gulf. Arrest and prosecute. The oil problem can be solved by executive making their job easier by enforcing 2014 Weight and Measures Act. Most of the oil theft happens from oil well to pipeline because of inadequate metering. How these guys set up who refining operations without anyone catching on is only possible because of the critical flaws.

Blue3k:


There's no big solution. Just get more equipment tackle the issue. Cooperate more with out countries in gulf. Arrest and prosecute. The oil problem can be solved by executive making their job easier by enforcing 2014 Weight and Measures Act. Most of the oil theft happens from oil well to pipeline.

Better off would be to get rid off all state owned companies. That would be smarter.

They'll soon present statistics showing Nigeria is richest in the world

You know our people like lying to each other

davidif:


Better off would be to get rid off all state owned companies. That would be smarter.

That's cool with me. Government still need to enforce act either way. Multinational oil firms do take advantage of this flaw as well. This why Nigeria doesn't really know how many Bpd of oil it produces.

tribalistseun:
Buhari will know no peace

Nwa nnunu belu na ngige; ngige n'egwu nnunu n'egwu.

In English : Pikin we say im mama no go sleep, him sef no go sleep.

In the end our people will die. The question is what for? Because your candidate failed in 2015 ba?

You war mongers should continue. Agbachaa oso aguo mile.

Ekene'm unu

The oil will be the first militants will target if any serious crisis ensues.

It is already tilting towards it. Nigeria can't fund war without oil money in 21st Century

The greatest threat to Nigerian economy has always been Buhari , in 1984 he destroyed it and now again he is doing worse to it