By Okosun Dennis
Nigerian Navy’s newest Offshore Survey Vessel (NNS LANA) on Friday about 5:13 pm (Nigerian Time) began her homeward journey to Nigeria.
Confirming her journey to Nigeria, the Director of Information (DINFO), Commodore Suleman Dahun said in Abuja that the voyage would include Port visits to Lisbon, Las Palmas, Banjul, and Tema-Ghana and the vessel will eventually arrive on 17 May 2021.
Addressing the Ship’s Company, the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo noted that the foremost desire of every littoral state is to have a fleet with the right mix of platforms to meet its operational objectives.
He acknowledged that the homebound voyage of NNS LANA is yet another milestone achievement in the Nigerian Navy’s fleet recapitalization efforts.
According to CAS, the induction of NNS LANA to the Nigerian Navy will enhance the Service capacity in the provision of survey services and charting which are crucial to safe navigation for improved maritime security.
The Chief of the Naval Staff also said that NNS LANA will serve as a force multiplier in the Nigerian Navy’s ability to project naval power for enhanced maritime security in the nation’s maritime environment and the Gulf of Guinea.
He equally noted with great interest that the acquisition could not have been possible without the support and commitment of the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari whose desire is for the Nigerian Navy to have the requisite capability to meet her constitutional mandate for the nation’s economic prosperity.
Additionally, Vice Admiral Gambo commended the entire NNS LANA ship company for their good conduct since their arrival in France recalling that there has not been any adverse report of any sort.
He also applauded them for being very cooperative with Messrs OCEA (the French company that constructed the ship), which has been very instrumental to the completion of the project.
The Chief of the Naval Staff also charged them to maintain good conduct as they proceed on their homebound voyage. Vice Admiral Gambo also reminded them that the COVID-19 Pandemic is still much around. As such, he employed them to adhere to COVID-19 protocols including extant port administrative procedures/guidelines, and to avoid any act capable of tarnishing the image of the Nigerian Navy and the nation in particular.
Furthermore, the Chief of the Naval Staff disclosed that NNS LANA was designed with some shipborne training activities which are intended to further broaden their knowledge and sharpen their skills in the handling of the ship and its systems.
He, therefore, enjoined the shipping company to take the training seriously and absorb as much as possible bearing in mind that they have become potential reference points to subsequent ship’s company. He equally reminded them that for the nation to maximize the value of the newly acquired ship for the protection of the maritime environment, they must bring to bear the Nigerian Navy core values of professionalism, integrity, and teamwork.
Thereafter, the Nigerian Ambassador to France, Dr. Modupe Irele in her farewell remarks commended Messrs OCEA for their impressive craftsmanship in the construction of the hydrographic survey vessel and in the process sustaining the cordial relations between Nigeria and France.
She added that the ever-growing collaboration between the Nigerian Navy and Messrs OCEA in the manufacturing of several ships are strong indicators of the increased engagements between Nigeria and France in Economic, Defence, and Security Cooperation, among other areas. The Ambassador also commended the Nigerian Navy and Messrs OCEA who despite the challenging period of dealing with difficulties, disruptions, and delays caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic overcame these challenges to complete the construction of NNS LANA.
Dr. Irele added that the desire shown by Nigeria and France to strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation as well as increase foreign investments in current and new areas is a mutually shared objective by President Muhammadu and President Emmanuel Macron.
According to the Ambassador, the shared objective has resulted in an increasing level of exchange of visits by both leaders as well as frequent bilateral visits by high-level government officials of the two countries.
Dr. Irele laud the efforts of the Nigerian Navy under the leadership of Vice-Admiral Awwal Gambo towards ensuring the maintenance of maritime security. She hoped that the deployment of NNS LANA will increase the capacity of the Nigerian Navy in promoting foreign trade and commercial activities amongst other things.
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