The Nigerian Navy says it has acquired two high endurance offshore patrol vessels from DEARDAN shipyard, Turkey to boost maritime security.
The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla disclosed this in Calabar on Wednesday while delivering a lecture at the Naval Warfare Course 8.
The CNS delivered a lecture titled: ”Vision and Mission for the Nigerian Navy”
Ogalla said that the vessels were acquired as part of his fleet renewal mission for the navy.
”The objective of the fleet renewal policy is to develop a system capable of sustaining effective and round-the-clock presence in the exclusive economic zones,” he said.
He said that the Naval shipyard was also constructing 20 houseboats for operations in the brown water.
”All these are being done in defence of Nigeria’s maritime interests. We have categorised the fleet renewal under short, medium and long term plans.
”We have acquired three combat helicopters for the air arm and strategic military drones for the Nigerian Navy arm.
“The navy has received two AW109SP helicopters in February. Several other platforms such as two 38m fast patrol craft and another 409m fast patrol boats under construction are expected soon,” he said.
The CNS said that three 46m fast patrol boat would be launched in China in April and expected in the country before the third quarter of the year.
He further said that the long term plan included taking delivery of the high endurance offshore patrol of 76m and the 20 houseboats under construction by the Naval shipyard limited.
Ogalla said that the curriculum of the Navy War College would be improved upon to make it more sustainable for contemporary and evolving dynamics in the maritime environment.
”The initiative is in tandem with our national security strategy, iit will improve operations planning towards tackling a broad spectrum of emerging security challenges,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Naval Warfare Course 8 have 24 participants which includes, 17 naval Officers and two officers each from the air force and army.
The three other officers in the course came from Cameroon, Ghana and Guinea Bisau.
