This is a clarion call on the federal government to empower the Nigerian Merchant Navy (Coastal Defence Force) force with patrol vans, rifles, speed boats, and also the operational equipment, this will in turn compliment the administration’s efforts to boost maritime trade and unlock the vast maritime potential of Africa.
President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the Nigerian Merchant Navy (Coastal Defence Force) to secure the country’s national asset and also create more job opportunities on April 20, 2017.
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The Nigerian Merchant Navy, whose role is to combat sea piracy, has been working for over 15 years now and we see it as a duty call to serve our fatherland.
We have thousands of our officers at Abuja ship base, known as Source of Information ship base command; Benue State command known as Signal Ship Base Command; Lagos State known as Search And Rescue/Federal Operational Ship Base Command; Abia State, Operational Ship Base Command; Edo State, Operational Ship Base Command; Kaduna State Administrative Ship Base Command; Delta State, Tactical Boats Operational Command; Bayelsa State, Operational Command; Cross River State, Protection of military load ship base command; River State, Operational Command/Sea Training Depot Ship Base Command; Imo, Ogun, Lagos and other states in the country.
Our organisation has discovered the roots and hideouts of kidnappers, smugglers, and the channel of importing illegal firearms and major locations of illegal oil bunkering including Lagos, Ogun, Bayelsa, Edo, Akwa Ibom, Delta and Rivers states. We deserve to be empowered and equipped with arms and ammunition to collaborate with the Nigerian Army and other security agencies for security in the country.
We, therefore, appeal to the relevant authorities for the implementation of the president’s approval which should include issuance of appointment letters, appropriate remuneration and where necessary, promotion of our officers and men.
Commodore Ichukwu Agaba, Nigerian Merchant Navy.
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