Niger Delta Youth leaders on Sunday said that the strategies deployed by the Joint Task Force (JTF) in fighting oil theft has saved the nation from economic losses running into billions on naira.
The youths noted that the effective and efficient leadership of the out-going field-commander of JTF, Rear Admiral Suleiman Apochi had curbed oil theft and vandalism of oil infrastructure in the past three years.
The youths, under the auspices of the Niger Delta Youth Coalition for Peace and Progress (NDYCPP) commended the tactics deployed by Apochi to curb the perennial sabotaging criminal activities of oil-bunkerers, pipeline vandals.
Amb. Kennedy Tonjo-West, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Bayelsa State on Niger Delta Youth Matters and pioneer President of NDYCPP made the commendation in an interview in Yenagoa.
Tonjo-West who spoke at the handing-over ceremony qt JTF’s headqaurter observed that sea-piracy, kidnapping and other criminal activities that have plagued the Niger Delta region had drastically reduced under Apochi’s watch.
“Clearly the operations of the Joint Military Taskforce have drastically brought about relative peace and safety on the waterways and other travels channels and routes of the Niger Delta.
“This improved security is boosting business investments and other daily socio-economic activities as well as Government and multi-national oil facilities and equipment which hitherto were targets of frequent criminal attacks.
“The zero-tolerance posture of the JTF to oil theft and criminality drives away would be criminally minded persons to behave themselves or be dealt with appropriately.
“Before now, we should not in a hurry to forget the turbulent period of the criminal attacks on oil facilities and pipelines spearheaded by the Niger Delta Avengers and other restive groups that greatly affected oil output.
“Insecurity in the region led to reduction in our earnings in revenue projections nationally..
“We laud the gallant and untiring efforts of the JTF in maintaining law and order in the oil and gas sector of the economy particularly, and the general society as a whole.
“We pray the Good Lord to endue the out-going field commander, Rear Admiral Suleiman Apochi, fresh grace to serve our nation in his new posting as the Chief of Defence Administration, Defence Headquarters, Abuja.
“We would like to canvass for stronger collaboration and mutual cooperation with the in-coming filed commander, Rear Admiral Akinjide Akinrinade, to sustain the momentum of success recorded so far and improve on it.
“We solicite greater synergy with profiled youth bodies such as ours; who have been strategic in intelligence gathering and peace-building efforts in the region over the years,” Tonjo-West said.
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