Minister of State for Defence Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle says new platforms acquired by the Nigerian Navy will increase her fighting power against criminalities and illegalities within the Nigerian territorial waters and the Gulf of Guinea.
A statement by director Press and Public Relations of the ministry Victoria Agba- Attah quoted the minister as saying this weekend, at the Passing out Parade of batch 34 trainees of Nigerian Navy Basic Training School in Onne, Port Harcourt.
“The new acquired platforms would serve as enablers to increase the Nigerian Navy’s dominance and influence in the fight against crude oil theft, illegal refining, pipeline vandalism, piracy and illegal unreported unregulated fishing activities,” he said.
According to him, the new platforms would further expand the reach and coverage of the Nigerian Navy patrol capabilities within the back waters and the inland waterways, FOB Lekki, FOB Ekpe, naval base Oguta, NOP Tarkwa Bay and NOP Shagunu that were recently established.
While addressing the 1,865 trainees of the batch 34, the Minister charged them to hold strongly to the core values of the Nigerian Navy footed on integrity, professionalism and teamwork, pointing out that they are the keys to victory in any assigned task.
He commended the efforts of the Nigerian Navy, saying that with enough trained personnel and with the acquisition of the new platforms, the fight against criminalities and illegalities in the Nigerian waters and that of the Gulf of Guinea would reduce drastically.
