…AS HE INAUGURATES MADE-IN- NIGERIA SHIP NNS OJI, 111 BOATS
By Okosun Dennis
The President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, Muhammadu Buhari, has described the Nigerian Navy as one of the major contributors to the Nigerian economy.
He said this on Thursday while inaugurating the new locally-built Seaward Defence Boat 3 named: “NNS OJI”, six other ships, 111 Suncraft boats and one Augusta Helicopter at the Naval Dockyard, Victoria Island, Lagos.
He commended the Navy for its fight against maritime criminalities noting that the effective deployment of the platforms would assist in routing crimes at the maritime domain and in the Gulf of Guinea.
During the commissioning, the President also carried out the keel-laying ceremony for the construction of Seaward Defence Boat-IV and Boat-V.
It would be understood that indigenously constructed SDB, NNS Oji, is the third of its series to be locally built at the Naval Dockyard Limited, Lagos solely by the Nigerian Navy engineers after the successes of NNS Adoni, and NNS Karaduwa, commissioned in 2016.
While tasking them on professionalism, President Buhari admonished all naval personnel to ensure good use of the newly built and recently acquired platforms including NNS LANA, NNS KANO, NNS IKENNE, NNS ABA, NNS SOKOTO and NNS OSUN.
In his speech, he observed 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.
“Let me assure you that the Government will continue to support the ideals of the Nigerian Navy in the performance of its constitutional duties. God bless the Nigerian Navy, he reiterated.
He saluted the force for its drive for local content development which is in tandem with the philosophy of this administration.
While pledging the support of the Federal Government and its 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.
‘”I commend the business dependability of Messrs OCEA Shipyard – France, the builders of our Navy’s first-ever purpose-built Offshore Survey Vessel for a conclusive and successful execution of the contract.
“Local partners should share in this commendation for their efforts at local facilitation as outlined in the Government’s local content policy,” he said.
President Buhari acknowledged that 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 sea lanes of communications.
According to him, given the present high dependence on oil and gas revenues, the Navy is undeniably a major contributor to the economic well-being of Nigeria.
‘”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.
“Such successes were made possible through the enforcement of our new anti-piracy law on Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Act 2019,” the President concluded.
Earlier, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo explained that the Nigerian Navy would 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, he noted that the platforms would be deployed in line with the NN’s Trinity-of-Actions Concept of Maritime Security to deny criminal elements freedom of action as 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.
Vice Admiral Gambo further added that it was a milestone in the history of the Nigerian Navy as we gather to witness the commissioning ceremony of some recently acquired Inshore Patrol Craft (IPC) and Fast Patrol Boats (FPB) of various categories as well as the commissioning of the locally constructed Seaward Defence Boat-SDB III and the keel-laying ceremony for SDB IV and SDB V.
Gambo said in line with my vision, “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”, the Service intends to raise the bar by embarking on the construction of two SDBs.
Evidently, “with the experience garnered so far, the Naval Dockyard Limited is adequately poised to take on this challenge in Pursuit of the FGN’s Local Content Development effort. The NN, therefore, avails itself of this unique opportunity to humbly call on the President to lay the keel for the commencement of the construction of SDB IV and SDB V.
“I reassure you that with your continued support to the NN, these vessels shall be delivered as scheduled.
Notably, one of the ships to be commissioned today, the Hydrographic Ship NNS LANA was received from her maiden voyage from France to Nigeria on 17 May 2021
“NNS LANA will be involved in the hydrographic survey of our territorial waters towards ensuring the safety of navigation within our waterways while SDBIII, 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 our 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 will like to assure you all that these assets will be adequately maintained to sustain our maritime security operations.”
The CNS used the opportunity of the occasion to solicit for the sustenance of the cooperation among maritime and security stakeholders operating in our maritime domain.
He added that the commissioning of the SDB III, NNS OJI and others today is a manifestation of the Federal Government’s commitment to maintaining a well-equipped navy that Nigerians would be proud of.
The Seaward Defence Boat 3 had its keel laid by President Buhari in 2016 and it remains in the history of the Navy the only ship whose keel was laid and commissioned by the same President.
With 76 crew and 20 nautical speed, it has two caterpillar engines and two generator sets with a length of 43 metres. It was solely built from the beginning to the end by the Nigerian Navy.
Other highpoints of the ceremony were the breaking of Mast Head Pennant and Hoisting of Ensign/Jack; the reading of Act of Dedication by the Commanding Officer, NNS LANA and the unveiling of the Ship’s name by the Special Guest of Honour, President Mohummadu Buhari.
Present at the occasion included the Senate President Ahmed Lawan, represented by Senator Jos Sekibo; Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila who was also represented by the Chairman, House Committee on Defence, Hon Babajimi Benson; Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his Ogun state counterpart, Dapo Abiodun respectively.
Also present were the House Committee Chairman on Nigerian Navy, Senator Elisha Abbo; the Emir of Kano and the Oba of Lagos who was represented by the Oniru of Iruland. Others were the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, IGP Usman Alkali Baba; the Defence Minister Maj Gen Bashir Magashi (retd); former Naval Chiefs Admiral Ogohi, Commodore Ebiti Ukiwe, Vice Admiral Ibrahim, Ayinla and many other retired and serving officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
https://any.peopleandpowermag.com/nigerian-navy-a-major-contributor-to-nigerian-economy-president-buhari/
