Benjamin Omoike l Friday, December 16, 2016
LAGOS, Nigeria – President Muhammadu Buhari says the Nigerian Navy has taken its destiny in its hands by locally producing some of its ships, especially in the face of the current recession being experienced in the country.
Buhari spoke on Thursday at the Nigerian Naval Dockyard in Victoria Island, Lagos, during the commissioning of two ships- NNS Unity and NNS Karaduwa, one tug boat- NNS Top Commander Ugwu and 27 patrol boats.
The President said it was particularly significant and impressive that the ships were locally built. He commended the Navy for looking inwards using local engineers from the Nigerian Navy Dockyard Limited to assemble their fleet. He noted that security of the maritime sector was vital to the nation’s well being, now that the country was going through recession and arising security concerns.
“The event of today is significant for a number of reasons; first it is most fulfilling to know that our own engineers at the Nigerian Navy Dockyard Lagos and the Naval ship yard Port-Harcourt, are wholly responsible for the building of slips.
“It is also worth noting that Nigerian Naval Unity which is Nigeria’s newest ship is the second of such acquisition from the People’s Republic of China and it is a product of Nigeria’s growing relationship with China.
“It is even more heart warming that you have not confined your efforts into foreign sources alone but have braced up to take your destiny in your own hands by embarking on aggressive local components from within to assemble your fleet,” Buhari said.
Buhari, who was accompanied by Gov.Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State and six Federal Ministers said the Federal Government would continue to support the Navy in areas of capacity building, training and infrastructure development.
He said the Navy had an impressive feat in its involvement and contribution in the ongoing fight against insurgency in the North-East.
Buhari admonished the Naval officers to remember that the nation was in critical times as such prudent resource management and patriotic rededication was critical at this time. He said he was accordingly encouraged by the steps taken by the force so far.
Earlier, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ekwe-Ibas, said he was delighted and profoundly humbled by the President’s presence at the occasion. He said this was proof of his total support to the capacity building of the Navy.
Ibas said the Navy was fully conscious of the huge investments upon it by the government adding that the Navy was challenged by many vices including growing crime rates and adverse economic changes, among others.
He said in the light of these, there was need for the Navy’s fleet reactivation adding that over 100 boats had been injected into its fleet for maritime activities. Ibas said the ships being commissioned had a two-pronged approach – local production and foreign investment from China.
He said this had saved the country a lot of foreign exchange and that it would serve as a major boost to surveillance, enforcement, and security of the maritime domain.
