Navy, Tompolo’s Firm Trade Blame over MT Praisel Arrested for Crude Oil Theft

* Navy lab test confirms product not stolen crude

*Tantita security raises posers over discrepancies on destination of vessel

The Nigerian Navy said weekend that the product on the controversial vessel, MT Praisel, was not stolen crude oil contrary to reports.
It said after laboratory analysis, the product onboard MT Praisel by all agencies including the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) indicated that the product displayed properties consistent with Nigerian industrial standard specification for High Pour Fuel Oil (HPFO).

But Tantita Security Services, a private security outfit operating in the Niger Delta region, has raised posers about discrepancies on the destination of the motor tanker.

It queried why NMDPRA approved port of discharge (Lagos Offshore) was different from the Navy clearance (Koko as storage) and why both  were different from the port of discharge indicated in the Naval press statement (Bonny).

The Navy statement issued by Naval Spokesman, Ayo-Vaughan, affirmed that on Saturday August 5, 2023, the results of the laboratory analysis of the product onboard MT PRAISEL by all agencies including NMDPRA indicate that the product displayed properties consistent with Nigerian industrial standard specification for HPFO.

“This result, therefore, proves that the allegation and suspicion was totally wrong, unfounded, and perhaps mischievous.

“The intelligence which was said to have been received in respect of the vessel and its product is equally wrong. This singular incident brings to the fore the high-handedness and unprofessional conduct displayed with its attendant negative consequences for the supplier and buyer of the product, the vessel hired to convey it and other parties involved in the legitimate business,” it said.

The Nigerian Navy reiterated its stance to support every single effort to halt economic saboteurs and to fight against crude oil theft in Nigeria’s maritime environment (NME) provided such effort is done within the ambit of the law and with the best professional conduct.

“Proper precaution therefore must be adhered to by all stakeholders to avoid unnecessary impediment to legitimate commercial activities and businesses in the maritime environment”, it said.

Meanwhile, in a separate statement, Tantita Security Services, a private security outfit operated by ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, queried why NMDPRA approved port of discharge (Lagos Offshore) was different from the Navy clearance point (Koko as storage) and why both were different from the port of discharge indicated in the Naval press statement (Bonny).

“Contrary to the Naval Headquarters’ press release on the issue of who was present on Thursday the 3rd of August 2023, it was on Friday the 4th of August 2023 that a staff of NMDPRA first came on board to take samples from the cargo holds for laboratory analysis.

“While it is our honest belief that the Naval Headquarters’ press statement was actuated by the best motives, clearly there are questions which beg for answers.

“For example, why is NMDPRA approved port of discharge (Lagos Offshore) different from the Navy clearance (Koko as storage) and why are both different from the port of discharge indicated in the Naval press statement (Bonny)?

“In the course of several joint meetings,  we have consistently asked for a single clearing house for all approvals so that each agency of government can see what the other is approving or has approved.

“We are all aware that unscrupulous elements can take advantage of existing gaps in procedures to clandestinely transport and sell stolen crude and illegally refined products”, it said in a statement.

TSSNL in the statement added: “On August 1, 2023, Tantita received credible intelligence that a vessel, which had got NMDPRA approval to deliver HPFO from Koko to Lagos offshore would proceed in the opposite direction.

“On August 2, 2023, Tantita operatives approached the MT PRAISEL as it made its way through a creek in Delta State, off the Benin River. On board, the vessel was naval personnel, while the Tantita inspection crew included officers and men from Operation Delta Safe (the inter-service task force for fighting crude oil theft, amongst other things in the Niger Delta).

“The intelligence suggested that the vessel ought to be sailing to Lagos, but the Master of the vessel showed he was sailing to Bonny. Tantita requested naval clearance, and the documentation showed by the Master of the vessel showed Koko as the port of discharge for storage only.

“There was nothing showing Bonny as Port of discharge in that document. In line with Standard Procedure, Tantita requested further clarification from the crew regarding the discrepancy between NMDPRA permit and the naval clearance, and permission to take samples of cargo onboard.

“Understandably, this infuriated the naval personnel on board, who requested Tantita personnel to disembark from the vessel. Tantita had no option but to escalate the issue to higher authorities, which mandated that the vessel anchor off Escravos roads for further investigation.

“Tantita dispatched her personnel to collect samples from the vessel on August 3, 2023. Those present at the time of collection on August 3, 2023, were the Nigerian Navy, Tantita, and the NSCDC. Tantita personnel were still on board the vessel collecting samples when the news broke in the media.

“The following day, Tantita woke up to the Naval Headquarters’ press statement, which appears to show that the NMDPRA gave approval to the MT PRAISEL to proceed to Bonny for discharge.
“We are yet to see that documentation, and as we noted above, the Nigerian Navy clearance we saw did not state Bonny as the Port of discharge.

“There are many vessels plying this area, but Tantita does not board them, as intelligence has to be credible. In the circumstances, there were reasonable grounds to suspect the movement of MT PRAISEL in the opposite direction from the NMDPRA clearance seen.” (Thisday)