By Victor Akaa
In a significant boost to Nigeria’s maritime security and economic growth, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has on Thursday, commissioned three advanced warships and two helicopters in Lagos State.
The President whilst commissioning the commended the Nigerian Navy (NN) and the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, for creating a safe and secure maritime environment.
Represented by Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, President Tinubu praised the NN as “lifeguards of Nigeria’s Maritime Environment” and applauded Vice Admiral Ogalla’s anti-crude oil theft operations, which have led to increased oil production.
The newly acquired ships and helicopters commissioned include: NNS OCHUZOR – 35m Hydrographic Survey Vessel, NNS CHALAWA – 32m Seaward Defence Boat (SDB), NNS ZUR – 32m Seaward Defence Boat, Helo NN 412 and Helo NN 414.
The President also flagged off the Regional Maritime Exercise (REMEX) “ABO-OKUN,” which involves participating ships from various navies, including Brazil, Cameroon, China, and 11 NN ships with two helicopters.
During the event, President Tinubu declared open the Nigerian Navy International Maritime Conference (IMC) 2024, tomark the 68th anniversary of the Nigerian Navy.
The IMC 2024, themed “Promoting the Blue Economy in Africa through International Cooperation on Maritime Security,” aims to optimize the benefits of the Blue Economy for economic growth. The conference has attracted participants from several countries, including the United States, South Korea, France, China, United Kingdom, Spain, Russia, Ghana, Cameroon, Senegal, Equatorial Guinea, the Gambia, and Benin Republic.
This year’s NN 68th anniversary celebrations have demonstrated the Nigerian Navy’s highest state of operational readiness under the leadership of Vice Admiral Ogalla and President Tinubu.
