The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, was represented by Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima GCON at the Nigerian Navy’s landmark event held at the Naval Dockyard Limited in Lagos.
The occasion marked the commissioning of three warships and two helicopters, the flag-off of a regional maritime exercise, and the inauguration of the Nigerian Navy International Maritime Conference (IMC) 2024.
The event, which commemorated the Nigerian Navy’s 68th anniversary, saw Vice President Shettima commissioning the new naval assets and highlighting their significance in ensuring maritime security.
The new assets include the NNS OCHUZOR, a 35-meter hydrographic survey vessel; NNS CHALAWA and NNS ZUR, both 32-meter seaward defense boats; and two helicopters, NN 412 and NN 414.
In his remarks, President Tinubu praised the Nigerian Navy and its Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, for their efforts in maintaining a secure maritime environment.
He commended Vice Admiral Ogalla’s successful anti-crude oil theft operations, which have significantly boosted Nigeria’s oil production. The President lauded the Navy as “lifeguards of Nigeria’s Maritime Environment.”
The Vice President also inaugurated the Regional Maritime Exercise (REMEX), tagged “ABO-OKUN,” aboard the Helo-Deck of NNS KADA, as participating ships from Brazil, Cameroon, China, and Nigeria, along with two helicopters, filed past in a display of naval prowess.
Day one of the IMC 2024 attracted delegates from numerous countries, including the United States, South Korea, France, China, the United Kingdom, Spain, Russia, Ghana, Cameroon, Senegal, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, and Benin.
The conference theme, “Promoting the Blue Economy in Africa through International Cooperation on Maritime Security,” aims to foster discussions on optimizing the Blue Economy for economic growth.
The Nigerian Navy’s 68th anniversary celebrations underscore its heightened state of operational readiness under the leadership of Vice Admiral Ogalla and the stewardship of President Tinubu.
The anniversary and the conference continue today, promising further international collaboration and strategic advancements in maritime security.
LV