A new ship, Nigerian Navy Ship Unity, acquired by the Nigerian Navy from the China Shipbuilding and Offshore International Limited (CSOIL) has arrived the country.
The ship, which departed China on 15 September 2016, berthed at the Nigerian Naval Dockyard Jetty on November 4, 2016 at about 2:10 pm.
Navy’s spokesperson, Commodore Christian Ezekobe said in a statement that the ship was escorted into harbour by two locally constructed Seaward Defence Boats (SDBs) NNS Andoni and NNS Karaduwa as well as TUG CDR Ugwu.
He said the NNS Centenary, a sister ship of the same class, was the first to be constructed by CSOIL, adding that NNS Unity, being the second, was built for high endurance capability at sea, which he said has made her an ideal platform for naval operations.
Commodore Ezekobe said the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, received the new ship together with officials of the Chinese Embassy in Lagos, representative of CSOIL in Nigeria, Mr. Dapo Oguntayo and former Chiefs of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Micheal Adelanwa (rtd), Vice Admiral Victor Ombu (rtd) and Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba (rtd).
“Other dignitaries that graced the reception ceremony include the past Chief of the General Staff, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (rtd), General Officer Commanding 81 Division Nigerian Army, Flag Officers Commanding Western Naval Command and Naval Training Command, senior military officers as well as officials of security agencies,” he said.
The Navy’s spokesperson said NNS Unity, while on her homeward voyage, paid port calls at the ports of five countries in Asia and Africa namely Port of Klang in Malaysia, Port of Colombo in Sri Lanka, Port Lious in Mauritius, Simons Town Port in South Africa and finally Port of Luanda in Angola, before arriving Nigeria.
