President Muhammadu Buhari has charged the Nigerian Navy (NN) to translate their impressive combat displays to actual capability to dominate the country’s maritime environment and secure the vast resources therein for socio-economic development.
Buhari spoke at the Presidential Fleet Review (PFR) organised by the NN in his honour following the tremendous supports the service received towards naval fleet recapitalisation in his eight-year tenure.
With the theme: “fleet readiness for national prosperity”, Buhari said the showcase of different types and classes of ships as well as helicopter symbolises the nation’s maritime power and its preparedness to carry out the Navy’s constitutional roles.
“Also, the combat displays staged by elements of the Nigerian Navy Special Boat Service and a mix of the air assets from the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Air Force were quite impressive.
“I expect this to translate into actual capability to dominate Nigeria’s maritime environment and secure the vast resources therein for the socio-economic development of our great country,” Buhari said.
Noting the inextricable link between maritime security and economic prosperity, Buhari said the safe and secure utilisation of resources domiciled in the maritime environment for national prosperity was cardinal to the Navy’s policing duties.
“Realizing this, my administration vigorously engaged in the recapitalisation of the Nigerian Navy Fleet throughout my eight years in office.
“Accordingly, about 20 capital ships have been acquired for the Nigerian Navy. These ships comprise Offshore Patrol Vessels, Landing Ship Transport, Hydrographic Survey Vessels, Seaward Defence Boats and Helicopters as well as over 300 Inshore Patrol Vessels and Assault Craft.”
The President who inaugurated a new helicopter, Augusta Westland NN410 manufactured in Italy, Landing Ship Transport (LST), NNS KADA, and a Seaward Defence Boat (SDB) NNS IBENO, donated to Nigeria by China, as well as unveiled the unveiling of the Nigerian National Maritime Strategy, 2023; said the NN’s efforts in indigenous shipbuilding was yielding positive results.
“Our naval engineers were wholly responsible for building 3 Seaward Defence Boats (SDBs) namely NNS ANDONI, NNS KARADUWA and NNS OJI. In December 2021, I equally performed keel laying foundation for the construction of 2 SDBs, which will be ready by 2024.
“At this rate, I have no doubt that the Nigerian Navy will soon commence construction of larger ships for itself and other navies in the region and beyond. This achievement is a great pride to Nigeria and an impressive contribution to national development,” Buhari said.
At the PFR were heads of foreign navies, former Chief of General Staff (CGS), Commodore Ebitu Okiwe (rtd), Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabor; Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Farouk Yahaya, Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, former CDS, Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim (rtd), former CNS’, Vice Admirals Samuel Afolayan (rtd), Allison Madueke (rtd), Dele Ezeoba (rtd), Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd); the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’adu Abubakar, among others.
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