VICE Adm. Ibok-Ete Ibas, the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), has restated the commitment of Nigerian Navy to a safer maritime domain for genuine maritime activities to thrive.

Comdr Suleman Dahun, Navy Spokesman, quoted the CNS as giving the assurance while defending the 2019 Nigerian Navy Budget before the Senate Committee on Navy.

“In view of the vital role played by Nigerian Navy in defense of the nation’s maritime interests, it is expedient for Federal Government to invest more in recapitalisation of capital assets and other infrastructure for the Navy to effectively secure Nigeria’s vast maritime environment.

“There has been progressive increase in the percentage of foiled attacks on shipping over the last four years with significantly fewer attacks on shipping.

“This is attributable to increased Navy deterrence posture and dominance at sea, facilitating increased shipping and cargo tonnage into Nigeria,’’ Ibas said.

Ibas said that the Nigerian Shippers Council affirmed a 31.24 per cent increase in volume of cargo into Nigeria with 21 per cent rise in associated coastal activities between 2017 and 2018, a 27 per cent increase in vessel registration and a 10.3 per cent increase in port calls by foreign vessels.

“The aforementioned increases are indicative of a more conducive maritime business environment through the efforts of the NN,” he said.

Ibas said that the NN had expanded its sphere of influence in response to increasing migratory threats by establishing new bases across the country, entering into bilateral and multilateral relations with countries in the sub-region.

He said that regional maritime security initiatives like the deployment of watch-keepers to the Maritime Trade Information Sharing Centre in Ghana and the Multi-National Maritime Coordination Centre in Benin Republic had been actualised.

Ibas also revealed that the NN also entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Heads of Navies of ECOWAS Zone E member countries namely, Benin Republic, Togo and the Gendarmerie of Niger Republic for joint patrols “of the our  common maritime environment’’.

The CNS said that other modest achievements of the NN in 2018 also include the construction of several jetties, particularly the reconstruction of Nigerian Navy Ship BEECROFT jetty

“Also, completion and commissioning of the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital Calabar and the establishment of the Nigerian Navy Military School at Ikot-Ntuen in Akwa Ibom state.

“This is in addition to induction of over 200 Riverine Patrol Boats (RPBs) into NN inventory as well as progression of contract for construction of the Landing Ship Tank (LST), Hydrography ship and other RPBs,” he explained.

He said that the NN in 2018 also made significant progress in its manpower development efforts through the recruitment of 1,106 and 1,176 ratings in batches 27 and 28 respectively.

Ibas said that 118 and 141 officers were also enlisted through Direct Short Service Commission (DSSC) Courses 24 and 25 respectively in 2018.

He added that plans were currently at advanced stages for the recruitment of about 3,000 ratings for Batch 29, while the training of 120 Midshipmen of NDA 66 and 73 cadets of DSSC 26 was ongoing.

The CNS said that the NN would do a lot more in year 2019 and beyond.

“This expectation will be realised with improved funding of the NN for enhanced performance in the delivery of its mandate of ensuring peaceful and safer water ways for genuine maritime activities to thrive thereby boosting Nigeria’s economy,’’ he added.

-NAN

BE

– Apr. 5, 2019 @ 13:49 GMT |