Rear Admiral Madugu Takes Over As Commander JTF Operation Delta Safe

Rear Admiral Noel Madugu has officially assumed command as the new Commander of the Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) in the South-South region, pledging to continue efforts to combat criminal activities, especially in the oil industry.

During the handover ceremony at the OPDS Headquarters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Friday, Madugu expressed gratitude for the leadership of his predecessor, Rear Admiral John Okeke, who has now been reassigned to Abuja. He acknowledged the strides made by Okeke in strengthening the operations of the task force, particularly in building relationships with host communities and in tackling crude oil theft.

Madugu outlined his commitment to maintaining the momentum set by his predecessor, emphasizing the importance of sustaining the fight against illegal activities such as crude oil theft. He reiterated the mandate of the Federal Government to increase crude oil production to 2.5 to 3 million barrels per day, a target that Okeke had worked toward. The new JTF commander promised to build on these efforts, implementing proactive measures to dismantle criminal networks and enhance the effectiveness of OPDS.

“Mandates have been given to us by the Federal Government, and we must continue to fight against crude oil theft and other forms of illegality in the oil industry,” Madugu stated. “Our goal is to achieve 2.5 to 3 million barrels per day, and I assure the public and the government that we will work hard to meet that target.”

In his address, Rear Admiral Okeke, the immediate-past commander, expressed his gratitude to the officers and men of the JTF for their professionalism and cooperation during his tenure. He acknowledged their contributions in advancing the mission of maintaining peace and security in the region and urged them to continue offering the same support to Madugu.

“Together, we have made significant progress in maintaining peace and security in our joint operations area. I urge you to extend the same level of cooperation to my successor,” Okeke said.

Rear Admiral Madugu also revealed plans to strengthen synergy and cohesion among the various units and formations of the task force to ensure more effective results in tackling security challenges in the region.