PHOTOS: Fubara donates six gunboats to navy for waterways patrol

Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, has donated six security surveillance 400-horsepower gunboats to the Nigerian Navy.

In a statement, Nelson Chukwudi, Fubara’s chief press secretary, said the gunboats were donated to secure oil installations, tackle sea piracy, and safeguard the waterways.

Chukwudi said the governor presented the gunboats to Emmanuel Ogalla, the chief of naval staff, on Friday at the NNS Pathfinder in Obio-Akpor LGA.

He quoted the governor as urging the navy to deploy the gunboats effectively, adding that securing the economy, heavily reliant on oil, requires sustained support for security agencies.

“As we gather here this afternoon, I want to assure you that this government will continue to support the Nigerian Navy,” the statement reads.

“I am a member of the committee on oil theft and pipeline vandalisation in the governor’s forum, and one of the problems we are facing is how to curb this crime.

“I am starting with donating these gunboats to show that I am committed to that course. I am also happy, honestly, as I said, and really humbled that the chief of naval staff had decided to do this for us, standing with us to appreciate the little things that we are doing for the Nigerian Navy.”

Fubara said providing a safe environment is a basic expectation, adding that it is the government’s responsibility to protect citizens’ lives and property.

“We are saddled with a very difficult problem that we are all battling to save our heads from, which is the issue of pipeline vandalisation and oil theft. This is a big problem in the Niger Delta,” he said.

“The little thing I can do is to promote and support the efforts of the Nigerian Navy. Last night, a pressman asked me how we motivate the Nigerian Navy, and I said the event that we attended, the Sunset dinner and award night, is a way to tell the Nigerian Navy that we appreciate what you are doing; we want to encourage you to do more.

“On our part as a government, we are donating these six security surveillance gunboats to the Nigerian Navy so that the Navy will perform better in protecting our waterways.”

The governor lamented the rise of kidnapping and piracy on Bonny and Kalabari waterways, adding that the gunboats will enable the navy to better secure the routes.

“When the government lives up to its responsibility by providing the amenities and equipment, and that equipment is not limited to only the boats but also other logistics that we are also providing to the Nigerian Navy, it will perform effectively,” Fubara added.

“So, here this afternoon, we are complementing the efforts of Mr. President. We are complementing the efforts of the Chief of Naval Staff. We are also complementing the wonderful job that the commander of the NNS Pathfinder is doing.”

The governor also donated two units of bungalows for senior officers and one base Bofor’s accommodation.