By Ologeh Joseph Chibu
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla has again made history, proving his rare expertise.
This time, his men have uncovered 400,000 capacity diesel bunker.
The bunker is located in a Lekki private home
Authorities are wondering how an individual could have built such a huge reservoir without the knowledge of security operatives or neighbours indicating the deep level of crime network in Africa’s biggest democracy.
The bunker is expected to have cost millions of naira to build not to talk of the means of constant provision and supply of diesel into the bunker.
Many are wondering how many of such bunkers may exist in Nigeria fueling the reality of private cartels that have built the capacity to maul and manipulate Nigerian oil and gas market.
Operatives of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT discovered tje Automated Gas Oil (AGO) which is a 400,000-litre capacity bunker at a private residence in the Lekki area of Lagos.
The General Secretary, Alliance for Yoruba Democratic Movements, (AYDM) Mr Popoola Ajayi told Irohinoodua that the Chief of Naval Staff Emmanuel Ogalla “is one of the best thing that has happened to Nigeria under this administration.”
He said since Ogalla assumed office, he has worked like “a Napoleon, a highly patriotic Nigeria determined to lift up the image of the Tinubu- government.”
AYDM is a coalition of 130 Pan Yoruba and civil society groups.
Irohinoodua heard that the Navy discovered the bunker after a well coordinated intelligence gathering mechanism spanning months of hardwork at the Elegushi Beach.
Handing over the suspects and recovered products to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) at Silver Bird Road, Ilasun in Lekki, yesterday, the Commander, NNS BEECROFT, Commodore Rafiu Taye Oladejo, said the suspects operated an unregistered company, Ahmed Ariyo Sons Nigeria Limited, in a residential neighbourhood.
He said Ariyo, two sisters and other suspects were running an illegal family business without a care for the safety of others.
“It’s worrisome that an apartment of this nature is serving as an illegal fuel depot undermining the economic and security implications on lives and properties.
“Eight tanks of 50,000 storage capacity each were kept in the compound with cumulatively 57,000 litres of AGO in them.
“The truck had 7,000 litres and the white TM bus had 30 jerry cans of 50 litres totalling 1,500 litres of AGO with an estimated market value of N89,000,000.
“There were 400 jerry cans and 13 drums carefully stocked inside another TM bus as well as in the compound.