President Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday, received the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, at his residence in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The President met him shortly before departing the country for Glasgow to participate in the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26).
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Fielding questions from journalists after the meeting, the CNS said the President was invited to the commissioning of the new Boat built by the Nigeria Navy scheduled for December.
He said the newly built boat would be added to the existing vessels for the protection of the Nigerian maritime territory against piracy, sea robbery, illegal bunkering and all other maritime crimes.
Gambo said it was one of the three seawards defence boats being built by the Nigerian Navy dockyard staff in Lagos.
He said the current approach saved cost since it did not involve foreign vendors to build or supply the ship, stressing that “going forward, we are looking at doing more of that within the shortest possible time.”
Asked whether the Nigerian Navy intended to build for other countries, he said: “Of course, already, we have the Democratic Republic of Congo, they are ready and willing to partner with us in shipbuilding and maintenance.
“We have Badagry Shipyard that wants to build a shipyard in Badagry.
“They are also ready to partner with us in maintenance and construction and most of the countries in the West Coast are definitely going to patronize us.”
On the President’s response, the CNS said: “His response is positive because it prides us as a nation that we can build something from the scratch to finish, by our own shipyard. So, it is a thing of pride to us.”
