The Nigerian Navy, on Monday, took delivery of a new hydrographic ship, NNS LANA built in France.
The latest acquisition is among numerous warships and fast attack boats ordered by the Federal Government in its quest to fight piracy and sea robbery in the country’s exclusive economic zone in the Gulf of Guinea.
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The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, while briefing stakeholders in the Maritime sector and heads of security agencies in the South-West, at a Civic reception to mark the arrival of the ship at the Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS BEECROFT, Apapa, said he is happy over the successful completion of the ship maiden voyage from France to Nigeria.
Gambo said NNS LANA’S maiden voyage afforded the ship’s company the opportunity to pay port calls to four countries namely: Portugal, Spain, Gambia and Ghana, noting that the port call is to keep with Nigerian Navy’s diplomatic role and opportunity to further consolidate the nation’s diplomatic relations with friendly states and allies.
The CNS explained that the induction of NNS LANA into the Nigerian Navy fleet with state of the art hydrographic survey equipment would enhance the capacity of the service to conduct Hydrographic survey and provide chatting service for safe navigation as well as delivery for maritime security.
“The ship will soon join other naval ships at seas to contribute to Nigerian Navy efforts in the defence of the nation’s maritime environment.
“The federal government of Nigeria has embraced the blue economy initiative in line with the United Nations sustainable development goal-14 agenda which entails the sustainable exploration and exploitation of vast resources in the nation’s maritime environment and to also provide quality Hydrographic services which is key to the development of the various sectors of the blue economy.
“Therefore, the acquisition of this survey vessel is an affirmation of the Federal government of Nigeria’s commitment towards the nation’s economic development.
“The Nigerian Navy is poised to collaborate with other maritime stakeholders in the deployment of this new platform to actualise the federal government of Nigeria’s vision of developing a sustainable economy that would contribute to the nation’s socioeconomic prosperity.
“I thank the president and Ccommander-in-Chief of the armed forces for his enormous support to the Nigerian Navy’s recapitalization effort.
“It would be deployed in Nigeria waters and anywhere her services is required in order to boost hydrographic efforts within the Nigeria maritime space” he added.
On his part, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Jason Gbassa, thanked the CNS for considering the command as a place to receive the ship.
