₦airaland Forum

The United States Coast Guard, in a joint operation with the U.S. Navy, has intercepted a Nigerian-owned supertanker, Skipper, following intelligence reports linking the vessel to crude oil theft and piracy.

The United States Coast Guard and U.S. Navy intercepted the Nigerian-owned supertanker Skipper owing to allegations of transnational criminal activities.
The Skipper allegedly operated under a false flag registration, raising suspicions and highlighting its deceptive practices.
The investigation addresses crude oil theft, potential drug trafficking, and its alignment with illicit financial and operational networks.
Authorities are scrutinising Thomarose Global Ventures Ltd., the inactive Nigerian company managing the Skipper.

The United States Coast Guard, in a joint operation with the U.S. Navy, has intercepted a Nigerian-owned supertanker, Skipper, following intelligence reports linking the vessel to crude oil theft, piracy, and a series of transnational criminal activities spanning multiple jurisdictions.

The Skipper, a 20-year-old Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) with IMO Number 9304667, has long operated in West African and South American waters, according to a report by Vanguard.

Though the tanker is reportedly owned and managed by Lagos-based Thomarose Global Ventures Ltd., its official registration lists Triton Navigation Corp., headquartered in the Marshall Islands, as the owner.

Illegal flag use confirmed by Guyana
At the time of the interception, the tanker was allegedly flying the Guyanese flag without authorisation. Officials from Guyana’s Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) confirmed that Skipper does not appear in the country’s ship registry, describing the vessel’s use of the flag as both illegal and deceptive.

Flag-switching, often called “flag hopping,” is a common tactic used by ships attempting to evade regulations, trade sanctions, or detection by maritime authorities.

U.S. security officials said the seizure was conducted under American law enforcement authority after a multi-agency investigation raised alarms about the tanker’s movements and cargo records.

President Donald Trump publicly announced the operation on 10 December 2025, describing it as part of a broader crackdown on illicit maritime activities targeting U.S. national security interests and the global energy supply chain.

In addition to suspected crude oil theft, a persistent problem in the Gulf of Guinea, investigators are examining whether the vessel was being used to transport a significant consignment of hard drugs.

Authorities are also exploring potential links between the tanker’s operations and an international network involving Iranian and other Islamist-aligned financiers implicated in money laundering, weapons trafficking, and the illicit oil trade.

The Skipper’s arrest has heightened scrutiny of its Nigerian manager. A Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) search shows that Thomarose Global Ventures Ltd., the company associated with the vessel, is currently inactive.

The inactive status, coupled with the opaque ownership arrangement and unauthorised flag use, has intensified questions about the company’s role and the tanker’s activities before interception.

An explosion occurred earlier this week at a key onshore natural gas pipeline in Nigeria, disrupting operations at the link shipping gas to industrial users and power plants, Nigeria’s state oil company NNPC confirmed late on Thursday.

The explosion occurred on the evening of December 10 on the Escravos–Lagos pipeline near the Tebijor, Okpele, and Ikpopo communities in the Delta State. Initial observations indicate a pressure drop consistent with a loss of containment at the gas pipeline, NNPC said in a statement.

“The cause of the explosion is still unknown but would be confirmed after a detailed investigation has been concluded. Our priority at this time is the safety of nearby communities and the protection of the environment,” the state company said, adding that it has activated emergency response procedures and teams.

The Escravos–Lagos gas pipeline is a major conduit of gas to industrial users and power plants in southwestern Nigeria.

The incident of still unknown cause took place days after NNPC and local producer Heirs Energies signed a deal to capture and use the gas flared at their onshore OML 17 joint venture near Port Harcourt in a bid to monetize the resource and reduce flaring.

Under the deal, the companies will capture the gas flared across OML 17 and deploy it for use in power generation, industrial applications, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and compressed natural gas (CNG). The move is aligned with Nigeria’s gas development priorities and energy transition goals.

Gas flaring has been a major issue at Nigeria’s oilfields—it is wasted instead of used for many industrial purposes, and holds back the country’s targets to reduce emissions.

Nigeria saw flaring volumes jump by 12% in 2024, which was the second largest increase globally behind Iran, the World Bank said in a report earlier this year.

CodeTemplarr:
11disproportionate entitlement i see in your comment. Whatabout those who actually owe us but do not care?

The Senate has summoned the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, alongside key industry stakeholders, for an urgent meeting following widespread public concern over the sharp rise in domestic airfares.

The resolution followed a motion raised by Senator Buhari Abdulfatai, who, as reported by Channels TV, warned that the escalating prices threaten national mobility and could disrupt travel ahead of the festive season.

Checks by The PUNCH showed that one-way airfare on some domestic routes, particularly on the South-South and South-East routes, has jumped by about 150 per cent, crossing N300,000.

Before the festive period, air tickets on domestic routes hovered around N120,000. But an analysis of domestic airfares on the websites of airlines last Tuesday showed that ticket costs, particularly to the South-South and South-East regions, have increased by about 150 per cent compared to what the prices were before the Yuletide.

During the debate, Senator Buhari highlighted complaints from Nigerians over soaring domestic flight costs, noting that a one-way ticket from Abuja to Lagos now ranges between N400,000 and N600,000, a price he says many citizens can no longer afford.

He added that the situation is particularly troubling given the growing insecurity and challenges on major highways.

“We need to invite stakeholders of our airline agencies to interact and interrogate these issues. Immediate steps must be taken before the festive period,” he said.

Other senators voiced similar concerns. Senator Adamu Aliero described the fare hike as unacceptable, while Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi condemned what he called a “400 per cent increase” and criticised delays in establishing a national carrier.

He urged Minister Keyamo to take decisive action.

Senator Solomon Olamilekan noted that airline operators have already received multiple concessions, especially on spare parts, and should therefore be held accountable for the current price surge.

However, Senator Orji Kalu attempted to justify the increases, citing rising operational costs and expensive spare parts, a defence that drew strong objections from several lawmakers.

The Senate ultimately directed Minister Keyamo, airline operators, regulators, and other stakeholders to appear before the relevant committees this week to explain the fare hikes and propose measures to stabilise prices ahead of the holiday travel season.

KaLuCh:
Guy. These people dey Western countries dey murder too. In fact, these people get entire countries devoted to killing others. These people are jihadists. Poverty did not turn them into murderers and bandits. Their religion did.

Jakarta:
That's childish, those farming in the north, rolling wheelbarrows morning to night, riding keke and motorcycles don't know how to steal or kidnap? A man caught red handed on top of someone else's wife, will always have a reason why he did what he did. Stop using poverty to justify insecurity, that's childish and lazy thinking.

Jakarta:
So based on your analogy it is poverty that made people go into worship centers and started shooting, and bombing them? You need serious beating.

Ttalk:
I know you will definitely type nonsense.How is terrorism, kidnapping and genocide and indigenous displacement amount to neglect?Are southerners killing the indigene and talking their land?

Nigeria, which has been substantially dependent on loans from foreign lenders, including the World Bank, has seen its debt stock rise significantly under its current administration.

Nigeria's debt to foreign lenders has substantially increased under its current administration.
Debt to the World Bank is projected to reach $9.65 billion by year-end, with notable contributions from IDA and IBRD loans.
Nigeria has become Africa's largest International Development Association borrower, holding a $18.5 billion stock in IDA loans.
Total external debt for the country was reported at $46.98 billion as of mid-2025.

Current projections show that the country’s debt to the World Bank is on track to hit $9.65 billion before the year runs out.

Drawing figures from the lender’s website, The Punch reports that the debts cover International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and International Development Association loans (IDA).

While the International Development Association offers thoroughly concessional loans and grants to the world's poorest countries, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development offers credits on commercial or near-commercial terms to middle-income and financially sound low-income countries.

Loan procurements under Nigeria's current president, Bola Tinubu, began shortly after his inauguration in 2023, with $2.7 billion in loans for four key projects.

In the same year, financing was focused on power sector recovery, renewable energy access, girls' education, and women's economic development.

The Nigeria Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up project secured $750 million in IDA assistance to strengthen private sector-led clean energy access.

Another $700 million IDA credit was recently allocated to girls' secondary education in participating states.

The Nigeria for Women Programme Scale Up received $500 million in IDA funding to support women's economic empowerment.

Currently, the country is looking to borrow an additional $500m from the World Bank on December 19.

These and many other loan programs have driven the country’s debt to the World Bank close to $10 billion.

The current year's loan pipeline is roughly comparable with the $2.7 billion obtained in 2023; however, it represents a fall of roughly 36.6% when compared to 2024.

IDA loans total nearly $7.30 billion over the course of the three years, while IBRD loans provide about $2.35 billion.

Grants increase by an additional $122.19 million, from $0 in 2023 to $70.01 million in 2024, then to $52.18 million in 2025.

As per the Punch, Nigeria is currently Africa’s largest IDA borrower, and the third-biggest in the world, as the West African country’s stock of World Bank International Development Association loans has climbed to $18.5 billion.

Nigeria's exposure surged by $1.4 billion, or 8.2%, from $17.1 billion in September 2024 to $18.5 billion in September 2025.

Nigeria’s total external debt was reported to be at $46.98 billion as of June 30, 2025.

dgitrader:
Theres is corruption all over the world
But its type in arewaland, is institutionalised by religious, tribal, class, and political bigotry. Deep and firmly rooted, it can not be uprooted. All this talk about lack of development, insecurity, radicalism, diseases, crisis, etc are just the fruits, the root is deep and not talked about.

lionshare:
If the USA legalized it, all this drama would end — allowing control over production, importation, and consumption. Otherwise, even if the current president leaves, the next one will likely continue the same approach since Uncle Sam can’t ignore the economic impact of the trade on Venezuela’s economy. Therefore, my theory is this is about oil not drugs😁

Arutan:
Reno will excel. It’s a perfect choice.