Buhari: Efficient use of ships by navy led to success in fight against crude oil theft, piracy

President Muhammadu Buhari says the efficient use of ships by the Nigerian navy has significantly helped in the fight against crude oil theft, and piracy among other marine crimes. 

Buhari, who spoke at the 2023 presidential fleet review in Lagos on Monday, said the achievements of the Nigerian navy were great pride to the country. 

“The Nigerian navy’s efforts in indigenous shipbuilding in line with the nation’s local content development plan is yielding positive results,” he said.

“Our naval engineers were wholly responsible for building three seaward defence boats namely NNS Andoni, NNS Karaduwa and NNS Oji.

“In December 2021, I equally performed keel laying foundations for the construction of two seaward defence boats, which will be ready by 2024. At this rate, I do not doubt that the NN will soon commence the construction of larger ships for itself and other navies in the region and beyond.  

“This achievement is a great pride to Nigeria and an impressive contribution to national development.”

Speaking further, the president said, “The navy has put these vessels into effective use as evident in successes recorded in the fight against resource theft, counter-drug operations and piracy.

“As you are aware, piracy reduced significantly over the past seven years, which culminated in delisting Nigeria from the list of piracy-prone countries by the International Maritime Bureau in March 2022,” Buhari said. 

“Furthermore, the application of technology to secure the maritime domain has supported intelligence-driven deployment of these ships. 

Buhari also commended the arraignment and persecution of “mt heroic idun”, after the detection and arrest for attempting to load crude oil at the Bonny offshore in August 2022 without authorisation among others.  

“This successful conviction further confirms the navy’s resolve to protect resources for economic prosperity, ” he added. 

On his part,  Auwal Gambo, chief of naval staff (CNS), said the induction of the fleet would reduce crimes and boost the socio-economic impact of the country.

“It is noteworthy that the recapitalisation of the fleet has enhanced the Nigerian navy maritime security framework and repositioned it to effectively combat maritime crimes,” Gambo said.

“These achievements are attributable to the sustained presence of Nigerian navy ships at sea, increased regional and international synergy as well as active maritime domain awareness. 

Gambo also said the support of the president has made the acquisition of additional vessels as well as several air assets to be possible. 

“Undoubtedly, the transformation of the Nigerian navy within the eight years of Mr President’s tenure in office has repositioned the navy for better service delivery and actualisation of its constitutional mandate,” he said.

“The induction of these platforms into the NN fleet will lead to further decline in maritime crimes thereby boosting socio-economic activities within the Nigerian maritime environment.”

The fleet inaugurated includes, a new helicopter NN410 manufactured in Italy, NNS KADA, a landing ship transport, built in Sharjah United Arab Emirates and NNS IBENO, donated by the Peoples Republic of China.