As early as 7am, the combined contingent of about 60 able-bodied operatives of the Gallery Security Services Limited (GSSL) and those of Sea Max, in eight speed boats equipped with double 200-horsepower engines, were set to hit the waterways from Akaranpu in Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State. They were buoyed up by the presence of two conventional security gunboats.
The monitoring team moved westwards passing about six strategic check-points mounted by GSSL operatives before hitting the high seas.
The team blasted through the waves for about an hour deep into the sea, ostensibly to establish that national oil and gas assets were not being tampered with. In the process, the operatives stopped at the Parabe 25, Parabe 32, Mr P. Producer among other platforms. The operatives even confronted two vessels, which turned out to be a fishing trawler and a tug boat making supplies to the platforms.
After about five hours of thorough scrutiny of the coastline and satisfied that all was well, the team headed back to shore, arriving Ayetoro about 2pm.
With its area of operations stretching along the coastline of Ondo, Ogun down to Lagos, GSSL ensures maritime business by the locals are conducted peacefully and safely. So far, the firm alongside the conventional security agencies has reduced to the barest minimum incidences of piracy and kidnapping along the waterways of the three coastal states.
It is also providing good cover for construction workers and equipment on the ongoing 700km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project, which criss-crosses the waterways of these states.
Speaking to newsmen, the security outfit’s Managing Director, Senior High Chief Bibopere Ajube, affirmed GSSL’s determination to sustain the existing peace and security in the area. He said the company would ensure that economic activities were conducted in an environment devoid of safety challenges and that national assets were not vandalised, compromised or left unchecked in a way that will give crude oil thieves the opportunity to shortchange the country.
The GSSL CEO insisted that the overriding objective is to give considerable boost to the country’s economy and its revenue profile.
“You can see that we are not joking. The goal is to ensure that the waterways and coastline of the three South-West states of Ondo, Ogun and Lagos are adequately secured and for businesses to be conducted in peace. That those involved are safe and secured, and to stamp out permanently incidents of kidnapping, sea piracy, crude theft, and vandalism of critical national oil and gas assets.
“With that done, you can be sure of the major goal of boosting economic activities in the region and ultimately boosting revenue accruing to the federal government’s coffers. GSSL is poised to sustain this without compromise,” he stated.
The Arogbo-Ijaw-born senior high chief from Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State founded the security outfit in 2012 with its operational base at Akaranpu community and a 1000-strong all-male operatives. Through these years, GSSL has collaborated robustly with the conventional security agencies to ensure a commendable measure of safety in the creeks of Ondo, especially in protection of national oil and gas infrastructure and assets.
During a routine drill preparatory to monitoring of the state’s waterways and coastline areas, the GSSL MD sounded a note of warning to people of questionable character to steer clear of the riverine areas. The man known as the Pathfinder of Arogbo Kingdom listed such people to include kidnappers, sea pirates, crude oil thieves and other vandals.
He warned that the security firm will, as always, not compromise in strictly enforcing the directive to keep the area safe and secured.
“Our primary assignment now is to be on high alert. If we notice any strange movements in our territory, we will respond immediately. Our operation around our border areas, waterways and coastline is to ensure that market women and others doing legitimate and lawful business are protected and safe.
“Also, we have to ensure that our national assets, that is, oil and gas installations and facilities that are in our area are secured. This is a major point of interest of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
“We are doing this in collaboration with government security agencies in the state as this is a national assignment for us working with them.”
Emphasising the determination of GSSL to enforce the government’s position on security of national assets, Ajube said with more than 10 years cognate experience, the company was poised to end crude oil theft on the coastal waters.
“There was a report that some persons were siphoning crude oil in the high seas. Gallery and Sea Max in collaboration with the security agencies will ensure that nothing untoward happens in Ondo waterways and to our oil and gas installations. We are the locals here and we play very key roles in ensuring security and safety.
“We are very significant in terms of protecting our vast coastline and the waterways because it is our area. Gallery has been in operation in this area since 2012. So we know every nook and cranny of this state’s waterways.”
Amplifying Ajube’s position, the GSSL Security Manager, Mr Ejijor Nsan, a retired Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), said before the company was established, there were a lot of illegal activities on the state’s coastal areas, noting however that the situation had changed.
“Before the establishment of Gallery Security Services, there were incidents of kidnapping, sea piracy, oil bunkering activities and what have you going on in the coastal areas.
“Most of these illegal activities take place in other states in the region like Lagos and in Ogun, particularly at a place called Arepo. But the CEO was invited to help in dislodging the vandals and criminals.”
The security chief explained that the coastal route from Akaranpu goes all the way to Epe in Lagos and on the eastern flank as far as Bayelsa and Rivers.
“Previously, once it was 4pm, no boat could move. So, the coming of GSSL changed the narrative and restored security to our waterways.
“The MD has deployed so much of personal resources into this project just to ensure safety of lives and property and security of national assets in Ondo coastline and waterways.”
As the days go by, the firm’s operations and its robust collaboration with the country’s security agencies will rev up safety on the country’s waterways, ensure adequate protection of national assets and shore up Nigeria’s economic prospects.
