JTF gets support of DHQ to fight oil theft
In an efforts to fight oil theft in the Niger Delta to a submission, the Defence Headquarters has assured troops in the Niger Delta that it will provide military hardware and logistics for the operations of the Joint Task Force in the oil rich region.
This assurance came on Wednesday in Port-Harcourt from the Chief of Training and Operations of the Defence Headquarters, Major-General Ebiobowei Awala, who described crude oil as Nigeria’s major foreign exchange earner.
According to Gen. Awala, who was on a tour of formations in Rivers State, measures had been put in place to halt attacks on oil installations and pave the way for the country steady development.
He said, providing logistics to the JTF in the Niger Delta region would sustain the 24-hour surveillance mounted by the task force to stop pipeline vandals and oil thieves from sabotaging Nigeria’s economy.
The Defence Chief of Training and Operations pointed out that the Defence Headquarters was planning to repair gunboats, vessels and other patrol vehicles to enhance the surveillance job of the task force.
He said, “This operational tour of military formations aims to see troops’ readiness and also to provide logistics to reduce operational challenges hampering the task force operations in the Niger Delta.
“We have identified some of the operational challenges confronting the task force and as such, the Defence Headquarters will provide logistics to enable it to effectively combat oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
“The Defence Headquarters also intends to repair gun boats, vessels and vehicles to enable troops effectively carry out 24-hour surveillance patrol of creeks in the Niger Delta.”
While saying that the JTF was doing its best to eradicate oil theft in spite of the challenges affecting its operations in the region, Gen. Awala appealed to the troops to continue to show dedication to their duty
