6th Fleet Focus: Noteworthy from Nigeria

Last week, the day after the USS McHenry (LSD 43) deployed on its African Partnership Station Initiative, Nigeria signed on. Nigeria's participation is a big deal, a huge opportunity for AFRICOM and the Navy and is an excellent example of the soft power discussed in the recently released Maritime Strategy.

The United States imports more oil from Nigeria than we do from Saudi Arabia. This puts the security situation in Nigeria very high on the interests of the United States. AllAfrica.com provides interesting insight into what the African Partnership Station Initiative is up against in Nigeria.

Chief of Defence Staff, Lt. General Andrew Owoye Azazi yesterday allayed the fears of Nigerians on the continued presence of United States military in the Gulf of Guinea.

Speaking at a forum in Abuja on Tuesday, the Defence chief said that Nigerians should not get unnecessarily worried over the matter as the troops are there just to give peace in the area. General Azazi said that US likes to have relative peace anywhere they have business interest.

"US wants relative peace to be able to undertake their business" he said pointing out that there is no other motive behind their troops presence to worry anybody.

The Nigerian public sees the US mission of "projecting stability" to the region as "exporting subversion." It is one of many stigma's the US Navy brings to the region, and it is going to take time to change perceptions. The article goes into detail regarding other challenges as well, problems ranging from corruption to HIV to security issues in the Niger Delta, including where "the Defence chief said that military have lost sizeable number of personnel in the troubled region but refused to give the exact figure of casualties." He acknowledges there isn't a military solution, there will have to be a political solution to stop the violence.

In the maritime domain, the security issues are evident.

MEN of the Nigeria Navy, NNS, Delta in Warri, Delta State have seized three vessels, including a Cotonou boat filled with condensate opposite the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Refinery jetty in Warri.

Vanguard learnt that the three ships were intercepted, last Thursday, by a Naval Patrol team very early in the morning but the oil bunkerers on sighting the military men, abandoned their pumping machines, their boats and the stolen condensate.

Navy Information Officer in Warri, Lieutenant Sikiru Adigun confirmed to Vanguard, yesterday that the seized boats were with the possession of the Navy.

He said the authorities of the NNS, Delta has contacted the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to come and dispose off the condensate.

As at yesterday when Vanguard visited the Naval Base, the three ships were seen with the anchored at the waterside while the condensate in the Contonou boat was leaking into the water with a heavy stench around the area. A source said the Navy was waiting for the SPDC to come and take the condensate away.

Crime which has led to environmental problems which is compounded by military engagements... the cycle continues. This is a small peek into the challenges facing the African Partnership Station Initiative.

This is also why the strategic thinkers who developed the new Maritime Strategy wisely emphasize a soft power approach throughout the strategy.