Buhari commissions indigenous Naval boat to boost maritime safety

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday commissioned an indigenously constructed Seaward Defence Boat (SDB) III, built by the Nigerian Navy, to boost safety, fight piracy and smuggling on the Nigerian maritime sector.

The indigenously constructed SDB, NNS Oji, which is the third in the series of such locally built boats at the Naval Dockyard Limited, Lagos was solely built by Navy engineers

The President also inaugurated some of the recently acquired platforms and the keel-laying ceremony for the construction of Boat-IV and Boat-V.

President Buhari said the new inductions to the Naval fleet would boost their capability in securing Nigeria’s maritime domain. ”

The government had in its efforts to strengthen the Nigerian Navy, developed new policy directives known as the Nigerian Navy Strategic Plan 2021-2030; the Chief of the Naval Staff Strategic Directive 2021-5 and the Total Spectrum Maritime Strategy to give the Service credible guidelines and leverage for improved operational efficiency.

‘‘The present realities, according to the President, therefore, call for prudent resource management, innovativeness, accountability and careful maintenance.

The President expressed government commitment to support the ideals of the Nigerian Navy in the performance of its constitutional duties and commended the Navy for maintaining a steady course in its drive for local content development which is in tandem with the philosophy of this administration.

He said the Federal Government’s 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.

Read also: Rising import worsens Nigeria’s trade deficit

‘‘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, charging all naval personnel to maintain professionalism and ensure good use of the newly built and recently acquired platforms including NNS LANA, KANO, IKENNE, ABA, SOKOTO and OSUN.

‘‘We should note 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.

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.

‘‘hief also used the occasion to laud the Navy’s efforts in the fight against maritime crimes in the Gulf of Guinea region, praising the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral AZ Gambo and all the officers, ratings and civilian staff of the Navy for remarkable achievements.