NIGERIAN NAVY SIGNED A THIRTY SEVEN MONTHS CONTRACT FOR TWO NEW WARSHIPS

The Nigerian Navy have signed a contract with a Turkish company, Messrs Dearsan Shipyard Limited for the purchase of two brand new offshore patrol vessels. The 2 vessels are expected to be completed within 37 months.

Speaking at the ceremony, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo recalled that Nigerian Navy has in the last couple of months brought to bear her dominant status in the region by sustaining an aggressive presence in the nation’s maritime environment, leading to drastic reduction in acts of criminality in the domain.

This development he added has been acknowledged by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) in its Global Piracy Report of 14 July 2021, indicating the lowest total of piracy and armed attacks against ships in 27 years.

Admiral Gambo stated that the contract signing ceremony was another milestone achievement by the Nigerian Navy in her fleet renewal effort towards realizing her 2021-2030 Strategic Plan and expressed gratitude to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari for his continued support and goodwill towards the Nigerian Nation.

To sustain the upwards trajectory of the NN’s operational engagements and actively participate in the proposed Task Force, the CNS informed that the President granted approval for the NN to procure two High Endurance Offshore Patrol Vessels with the capacity to carry out maritime interdiction operations, surveillance and special forces operations as well as provide naval fire support to land forces. 

The OPVs is also capable of conducting search and rescue operations, anti-piracy, anti-smuggling and anti-drug trafficking operations and disaster relief operations among others.