The Nigerian Navy on Wednesday signed a contract with a Turkish company, Messrs Dearsan Shipyard Limited for the purchase of two brand new Offshore Patrol Vessels. The 2 vessels are expected to be completed within 32 months.
Speaking at the ceremony, Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Garnbo recalled that Nigerian Navy has in the last couple of months brought to bear her dominant status in the region by sustaining an aggressive presence in the nation’s Maritime environment leading to drastic reduction in acts of criminality in the domain.
This development he added has been acknowledged by the international Maritime Bureau {IMB} in its Global piracy report of 14 July 2021, indicating the lowest total of piracy and armed attack against ships in 27 years.
According to the CNS, this report was corroborated by the Defence Web Maritime Security report of 15th October 2021 which noted further decline in reported cases of piracy and armed attacks against shipping in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG), a development he attributed to the impact of NN Maritime security operations efforts.
Admiral Garnbo stated that the contract signing ceremony was another milestone achievement by the Nigerian Navy in her fleet renewal effort towards realizing her 2021-2030 Strategic Plan and expressed gratitude to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari for his continued support and goodwill towards the Nigerian Navy.
The CNS also recalled that on the directive of the president and Commander-in-Chief, the Nigerian Navy hosted the Chief of Ghana Navy to discuss collaborative efforts to combat piracy and other Maritime crime in the GoG and during the meeting, it was agreed that there was a need to established a standing ECOWAS Muitinational Task Force in the GoG.
The CNS also disclosed that, to sustain the upwards trajectory of the NN’s operational engagements and actively participate in the proposed Task Force, President Buhari had granted approval for the NN to procure 2 High Endurance Offshore Patrol Vessels with the capability to carry out maritime interdiction operations, surveillance and special forces operations as well as provide naval fire support to land forces.
”The OPVs will also be capable of conducting search and rescue operations, anti-piracy, anti-smuggling and anti-drug trafficking operations and disaster relief operations among others,” Gambo said.
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