NIMASA dismisses reports linking Nigeria to crude theft vessel

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has dismissed reports alleging that the Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) Skipper intercepted by United States authorities is Nigerian-owned or Nigerian-flagged.

Mr Osagie Edward, NIMASA’s Head of Public Relations made the clarification in a statement on Saturday.

Edward said that the vessel, with IMO Number 9304667, did not fly the Nigerian flag and is not registered under Nigeria’s shipping registry.

He said that the purported owners, Thomarose Global Ventures Limited, were not registered with NIMASA as a shipping company.

The clarification follows media reports that the Skipper was Nigerian-owned and allegedly involved in crude oil theft and other transnational crimes before its interception by the United States authorities.

“Analysis from our Comand, Control, Communication, Computers and Intelligence (C4i) Centre shows that the vessel was last sighted in Nigerian waters on July 1, 2024.

“It proceeded on an international voyage, operating in the Arabian Sea and later in the Caribbean, where it was eventually intercepted.

“Records indicate that the vessel was formerly owned by Triton Navigation Corp and has undergone multiple name changes over time, underscoring that it has no current ownership or registration ties to Nigeria,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr Dayo Mobereola, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to maritime security and international cooperation.

Mobereola stated that NIMASA would continue to work with relevant stakeholders, including U.S. authorities, to support ongoing investigations.

He said that Nigeria would not tolerate criminal activities within its maritime domain, and urged the public and media to verify information to avoid misinformation that could misrepresent the country’s maritime governance.

(NAN)