Nigerian Navy to acquire 14 assault boats
The Nigerian Navy has planned to acquire 14 assault boats to boost its capacity building efforts in tackling the maritime crimes.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, made this known during an interview with journalists in South Africa. Vice Admiral Ibas said that the acquisition would involved a phase where part of the construction would be completed in Nigeria.
“The deal is such that the production will start here (in South Africa) and later be transferred to the Naval Dockyard in Lagos. We are also going to attach our personnel to the company during the process and this is to build capacity and also transfer technology,” the Naval Chief said.
Read also: Nigerian Army Small Arms Championship will hold in Sambisa Forest
He noted that maritime crimes are transnational in character, adding that “what happens to one coastal nation cannot be isolated from the other.” Vice Admiral Ibas also said Nigeria has been able to reduce the cases of piracy to the barest minimum, while efforts are ongoing to tackle human and drug trafficking.
“In the case of piracy, I think we have reduced the incidences to the barest minimum and when they take place, we ensure that we are at the scene of the incident before damage is done to seafarers,” the Naval Chief stated.
“With respect to human and drug trafficking, we are working closely with other national maritime law enforcement agencies to ensure that we are able to contain the menace,” he added. Vice Admiral Ibas has been attending a string of meetings and events in South Africa on the invitation of his counterpart in the country.
