Maritime security: Buhari inducts seven new Navy ships, boats, helicopter

*Calls for prudent management of resources, accountability

Joy Joseph

President Muhammadu Buhari has called for the prudent management of resources, innovativeness and accountability in advancing maritime security in the country.

Buhari gave the call on Thursday, at the Naval Dockyard Limited, Victoria Island, Lagos, while commissioning seven ships, boats and an AugustaWestland (AW) helicopter into the inventory of the Nigerian Navy (NN).

He emphasised that the nation is grappling with a decline in revenue and security challenges that has made the call imperative.

The Daily Times reports that the ships commissioned into the Navy’s fleet included NNS OJI, NNS LANA, NNS ABA, NNS SOKOTO, NNS OSUN, NNS KANO and NNS IKENNE.

Commending the Nigerian Navy in its drive towards local content development and cost reduction, the president revealed that NNS OJI, which is a Seaward Defence Boat (SDB) is the third in its series to be locally built at the Naval Dockyard Limited, Lagos solely by Navy engineers.

He reiterated that his administration will not cease to support the NN with the right resources and equipment needed to ensure maximum maritime safety.

In his speech, President Buhari said: “The significance of the commissioning of these platforms today cannot be overemphasized. I am also delighted to note that one of the ships to be commissioned today, NNS OJI; which is a Seaward Defence Boat, is the third of its series to be locally built at the Naval Dockyard Limited, Lagos solely by our Navy engineers.

“I commend the Navy’s effort at maintaining a steady course in its drive for local content development which is in tandem with the philosophy of our administration. Furthermore, the Federal Government’s commitment to properly equip the Navy with the right mix of platforms has seen the Service take delivery of NNS LANA in May this year from France.

“The Federal Government is aware of the Navy’s dedication towards ensuring the security of the vast oil and gas industry in the nation’s maritime environment as well as our sea lanes of communications.

“Given our present high dependence on oil and gas revenues, the Navy is undeniably a major contributor to the economic well-being of our country. Arrests of those involved in illegalities have yielded results as some pirates, illegal bunkering syndicates, pipeline vandals and other miscreants have been convicted during this year.

“We should note that we are in a critical period where our country is faced with a serious decline in our revenue and the security challenges we are facing.

“The present realities therefore call for prudent resource management, innovativeness, accountability and careful maintenance. I wish to reiterate that despite these challenges, our administration is very determined to ensure that the Navy is well supported to achieve its statutory responsibilities.”

Our Correspondent reports that the President also performed the keel laying ceremony for the local construction of SDB IV and SDB V respectively.

Expressing optimism that the newly built and recently acquired platforms will greatly bolster the efforts of the Service in securing Nigeria’s Maritime Environment, the President stated that the enforcement of the new anti-piracy law on Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Act 2019, has also contributed to the successes recorded by the NN.

“Furthermore, the provision of the new policy directives by the current administration of the Navy codified in such documents as the Nigerian Navy Strategic Plan 2021-2030; the Chief of the Naval Staff Strategic Directive 2021-5 and the Total Spectrum Maritime Strategy have given the Service credible guidelines and leverage for improved operational efficiency,” he said.

Commending the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS),Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, for his leadership style and zeal, President Buhari said: “Let me assure you that the Government will continue to support the ideals of the Nigerian Navy in the performance of its constitutional duties and I charge all personnel to ensure that professionalism is maintained and good use of these platforms.”

Earlier in his speech, the CNS stated that the Naval Dockyard Limited SDB Project which started in 2007 has yielded substantial reward with the completion of the third Seaward Defence Boat.

He said this is in line with his vision which is “To leverage on all factors of national location, technology, training, teamwork and synergy to re-energise the NN as a well-motivated and ready naval force in the discharge of her Constitutional mandate”.

Speaking on some of the features of the new fleets, Gambo said NNS LANA, which is a Hydrographic Ship, will be involved in the hydrographic survey of our territorial waters towards ensuring safety of navigation within our waterways.

He also said that the SDB III, Inshore Patrol Crafts (IPC) and Fast Patrol Boats (FPB) namely: NNS ABA, NNS KANO, NNS IKENNE, NNS SOKOTO and NNS OSUN will be deployed for surveillance and patrol duties within the waters.

“These efforts are geared towards enhancing the performance of our constitutional role regarding hydrographic survey and policing of our waters.

Invariably, the induction of these platforms into the NN fleet will lead to further decline in criminal activities in our Maritime Domain.

“I would like to assure you all that these assets will be adequately maintained to sustain our maritime security operations. I wish to reiterate that the Nigerian Navy will continue to imbibe the realities of our national imperatives and apply the most optimal policies and strategies in addressing the security challenges in our maritime domain including the Gulf of Guinea.

“To this end, our platforms will be deployed in line with the NN’s Trinity-of-Actions Concept of Maritime Security to deny criminal elements freedom of action.

Permit me to also state that the NN remains committed to a robust collaborative engagement with other maritime stakeholders in enhancing the performance of the nation’s ports and that shipping activities along our Sea Lanes of communications including maritime activities along the Inland waterways are not hindered in any way.”

Also present at the occasion were the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, the Chief of Defence Staff (CNS), the Inspector General of Police (IGP), other service chiefs, and Members from the National Assembly, amongst others.