Jonathan inaugurates four naval ships in Lagos

President Goodluck Jonathan has inaugurated four Nigerian navy ships (NNS) at the Naval Dockyard Limited in Victoria Island, Lagos.

Jonathan 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.

“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,” he said.

“Let me use this platform to promise my Nigerian countrymen and women that we will rout Boko Haram. 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.”

Expressing delight for witnessing the occasion, the president said four more ships would be added to the fleet before the end of the year.

“As the lead maritime security agency, therefore, the NN deserves all the support it needs to effectively carry out its statutory roles,” he said.

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 noted that the 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 a strong and virile navy capable of protecting Nigeria’s maritime interest against all forms of threat.

The new ships are NNS Centenary, NNS Prosperity, NNS Okpabana and NNS Sagbama.

After stating the role of each ship, Jibrin handed them over to their commanding officers.

“NNS Okpabana is to be enrolled in the NN as a frigate with capabilities for long endurance patrol of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ),” he said.

“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 called 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.”