Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle issued a stern warning to maritime thieves and pirates on May 29, 2025, to steer clear of Nigeria’s waterways, vowing robust military action to secure the nation’s coastal and riverine areas.
Speaking at a naval base in Port Harcourt, Matawalle announced the deployment of 12 new patrol vessels and 2,000 additional naval personnel to combat oil theft, illegal fishing, and piracy in the Niger Delta and Gulf of Guinea. The initiative, backed by a $500 million defense budget allocation, aims to protect Nigeria’s $10 billion annual maritime economy.
Matawalle highlighted a 40% rise in piracy incidents in 2024, with 25 vessels attacked and 15 crew members kidnapped. He linked maritime crime to oil bunkering, which costs Nigeria $1.5 billion annually, and vowed to dismantle syndicates operating from Bayelsa and Rivers states. The Nigerian Navy, in collaboration with the Joint Task Force (JTF), has arrested 150 suspects and seized 10 illegal bunkering ships since January 2025. Matawalle praised Operation Delta Sanity, launched in 2024, for recovering 2 million liters of stolen crude oil.
The minister’s warning follows President Tinubu’s directive to prioritize maritime security, with plans to integrate drones and satellite surveillance by December 2025. Local communities, however, urge economic opportunities to deter youth involvement in crime. Matawalle’s tough stance has drawn support from oil firms like Shell, but human rights groups caution against excessive force in civilian areas. The crackdown signals Nigeria’s resolve to safeguard its waters, critical to its economic and security interests.