The Nigerian Navy has announced the acquisition of two high-endurance offshore patrol vessels from Dearsan Shipyard, Turkey, as a measure to enhance maritime security.
Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, the Chief of Naval Staff, revealed this development during a lecture titled ‘Vision and Mission for the Nigerian Navy’ in Calabar on Wednesday, delivered as part of the Naval Warfare Course 8. He emphasized that procuring these vessels is integral to the navy’s fleet renewal mission.
“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 noted 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,” he disclosed.
He added that the navy had received two AW109SP helicopters in February, saying, “Several other platforms such as two 38m fast patrol craft and another 409m fast patrol boats under construction are expected soon.”
The Ogalla stated that three 46m fast patrol boats would be launched in China in April and expected in the country before the third quarter of the year.
He further disclosed 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 revealed that the curriculum of the Navy War College would be improved to make it more sustainable for contemporary and evolving dynamics in the maritime environment.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Naval Warfare Course 8 has 24 participants, which includes 17 naval officers and two officers each from the air force and army.
The three other officers in the course were said to have come from Cameroon, Ghana and Guinea Bissau.