The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has denied reports linking Nigeria to the supertanker, MV Skipper, recently seized by United States forces over allegations of crude oil theft and other transnational crimes.
In a statement issued on Friday, NIMASA said the vessel, a Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC), is not registered under the Nigerian flag and has no approval to operate as a Nigerian ship. The agency described claims suggesting Nigeria’s involvement as false and misleading.
The MV Skipper, which is about 20 years old and has the International Maritime Organization (IMO) number 9304667, was intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Navy earlier in the week in international waters off the coast of Venezuela. American authorities alleged that the vessel was involved in crude oil theft, piracy, and the illegal transportation of oil from Iran and Venezuela in violation of international sanctions.
Following the development, questions were raised in some media reports about whether the vessel had links to Nigeria. NIMASA said it was necessary to clarify the matter to protect the country’s image and correct the record.
According to NIMASA, checks carried out by the agency confirmed that the MV Skipper does not appear in Nigeria’s official ship registry. The agency stressed that only vessels properly registered and authorised by NIMASA are allowed to operate under the Nigerian flag.
NIMASA also dismissed claims that the ship’s owners are a Nigerian company registered with the agency. The vessel was reportedly linked to a Lagos-based company, Thomarose Global Ventures Ltd. However, NIMASA said investigations showed that the company is not registered with the agency as a shipping company.
“The MV Skipper is not registered under the Nigerian flag, and it does not have any authorisation to operate as a Nigerian vessel,” the agency said. “Its alleged owners are also not recognised or registered by NIMASA as required under Nigerian maritime laws.”
The agency explained that ship registration is a strict process governed by international and national regulations. Any vessel flying Nigeria’s flag must meet legal, technical, and safety requirements, which the MV Skipper does not.
NIMASA also provided details of the vessel’s recent movement to further distance Nigeria from the incident. According to the agency, data from its Command, Control, Communication, Computer and Intelligence (C4i) Centre showed that the MV Skipper was last sighted in Nigerian waters on July 1, 2024.
After that date, the tanker reportedly sailed along its usual international routes, operating in the Arabian Sea and later moving to the Caribbean region. It was in the Caribbean that U.S. forces intercepted the vessel.
The agency noted that the interception did not take place in Nigerian waters or within Nigeria’s maritime domain. This, it said, further proves that Nigeria had no role in the activities that led to the vessel’s seizure.
Another major issue raised by NIMASA was the flag the vessel was flying at the time of interception. According to the agency, the MV Skipper was found flying the Guyanese flag without authorisation.
Guyana’s Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) has since confirmed that the vessel is not listed in its national ship registry. This means the tanker was using the Guyanese flag illegally.
NIMASA explained that the illegal use of flags, often referred to as “false flagging,” is a common tactic used by vessels involved in illegal activities. Such vessels frequently change names, ownership details, and flags in order to hide their true identity and evade sanctions or law enforcement.
The agency added that the MV Skipper had previously been owned by Triton Navigation Corporation of the Marshall Islands and had undergone several name and ownership changes over the years. These frequent changes, NIMASA said, are often a red flag in the global shipping industry.
American authorities have said that the MV Skipper has been under sanctions by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) since 2022. The sanctions were imposed due to allegations that the vessel was involved in the illegal transportation of crude oil linked to sanctioned countries.
The U.S. Coast Guard and Navy have accused the tanker of participating in crude oil theft, piracy, and other organised maritime crimes. Investigations into the vessel’s activities are ongoing.
NIMASA stressed that Nigeria has no connection to these alleged crimes and should not be linked to the actions of a vessel that is neither registered nor authorised by the country.
The Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, said the agency is ready to cooperate fully with international partners, including U.S. authorities, to ensure that the matter is properly investigated.
Mobereola said Nigeria remains committed to fighting maritime crime and maintaining safety and security within its waters and beyond. He added that the country does not tolerate criminal activities such as oil theft, piracy, or illegal shipping operations.
“Nigeria will continue to work with regional and international partners to combat maritime crime,” Mobereola said. “We will not allow our flag, our waters, or our institutions to be used for illegal activities.”
Over the past few years, Nigeria has taken steps to improve maritime security, especially in the Gulf of Guinea, which was once considered a hotspot for piracy. The government, through NIMASA and the Nigerian Navy, has invested in surveillance systems, patrol vessels, and regional cooperation.
These efforts have led to a significant reduction in piracy and other maritime crimes in Nigerian waters. NIMASA said linking Nigeria to illegal vessels like the MV Skipper undermines the progress made and gives a false impression of the country’s role in global shipping crimes.
The agency urged the media and the public to verify information before drawing conclusions, especially on sensitive issues that affect Nigeria’s international reputation.
As investigations by U.S. authorities continue, NIMASA insists that Nigeria has no link to the seized supertanker and remains committed to lawful and transparent maritime operations.
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