Rear Adm. John Okeke has assumed duty as the new Joint Task Force Commander, Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), with a promise to build on what his predecessors have done.
Okeke was handed over the baton of leadership on Thursday at the headquarters of the OPDS in Yenagoa.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the new commander took over from Rear Adm. Olusegun Ferreira, who was transferred to Abuja as Chief of Training and Operations of the Nigerian Navy.
Until his posting as the JTF Commander, Okeke was the Chief Staff Officer of the Central Naval Command.
He thanked Ferreira for good leadership and gave the assurance that he would do his best to curb criminalities in Niger Delta.
Okeke said he would strengthen synergy among the various units, components and formations of the task force.
In his remarks, Ferreira said that the JTF, under his administration, destroyed and dislodged camps of militants in Niger Delta, thereby boosting security in the region.
He said that the security resulted in increased crude oil production index of the country.
According to him, the increase is due to protection of oil pipelines against vandalism.
He said that the mandate of the OPDS was to prevent crude oil theft and other criminality in the Niger Delta.
Ferreira urged the troops to remain determined.