President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday in Lagos assured Nigerians of
routing the Boko Haram sect as he inaugurated four of the Nigerian Navy
Ships (NNS).
“Let me use this platform to promise my Nigeria country men and women that
we will rout Boko Haram,’’ Jonathan said at the Naval Dockyard Ltd in
Victoria Island venue of the inauguration.
“Our capacity has increased sufficiently and our officers and men are
doing wonderfully well in the north and we must conduct our elections as
scheduled by INEC.
“I commend the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Usman Jibrin, Chief of
Defence Staff, Alex Badeh and other service chiefs, officers and ratings
who have made this inauguration possible.’’
Jonathan, who said crude oil theft had reduced, added that he was
delighted to witness the inauguration of the four new ships that were
added to the Nigerian Navy fleet.
“As the lead maritime security agency, therefore, the NN deserves all the
support it needs to effectively carry out its statutory roles.
“The four ships being inaugurated today are part of a total of eight ships
that are expected to be commissioned into the NN fleet in 2015,’’ he said.
The president said the inauguration gave him the opportunity to once again
reaffirm his confidence in the competence and commitment of the officers
and ratings in the Nigerian Navy.
After inaugurating the ships, Jonathan proceeded into NNS Centenary,
alongside senior officers, ministers, Oba of Lagos and some members of the
Navy Officers Wives Association (NOWA) for inspection.
In his speech, Jibrin also said the Nigerian Navy would not have achieved
the meaningful progress it had made in its fleet re-capitalisation effort
without the active support of the Federal Government.
He thanked the president for his resolve to emplace strong and a virile
Navy capable of protecting Nigeria’s maritime interest against all forms
of threat.
The ships; NNS Centenary, NNS Prosperity, NNS Okpabana and NNS Sagbama
were handed over to their commanding officers.
Jibrin handed over the ships to Capt. CD Okehie, Capt. MY Abba, Capt. AM
Ibrahim and Capt. BK Effiong respectively.
According to the CNS, NNS Okpabana is to be enrolled in the NN as a
frigate with capabilities for long endurance patrol of the Exclusive
Economic Zone (EEZ).
“The NNS Centenary’s main mission will include maritime surveillance, EEZ,
patrol and response task and protection of offshore resources and
infrastructure.
“The Centenary is to also provide aid to civil authority when call upon to
do so in period such as civil unrest and natural disaster among others.
“NNS Sagbama is a river town patrol vessel, while NNS Prosperity is to be
enrolled into the NN as a training ship for junior officers and ratings,’’
he said.
The dignitaries present were Minister of Defence, Aliyu Gusau, Chief of
Army Staff, Kenneth Minimah, Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh and Chief
of Air Staff, Adesola Amosu.
Others are the Oba of Lagos, Riliwan Akiolu, members of the diplomatic
corps, and ministers.
