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By: Okosun Dennis
The quest to have comparative advantage at local warships building by the Nigerian Navy has given positive projection at achieving 60% local ship building capability by 2030.
This was disclosed by the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, in his remarks during the closing ceremony of the 5th International Maritime Conference as part of the 68th Nigerian Navy anniversary held at the Admiralty Conference Centre, Naval Dockyard Limited, Victoria Island, Lagos on Friday.
He noted that the Nigerian Navy’s strategic plan for 2021-2030 is to locally build, at least, 60 percent of its ships. In that direction, it is presently building its 5th and 6th Seaward Defence Boat (SDB).
While applauding the tremendous feat achieved by the force in that direction, Admiral Ogalla encouraged countries like Ghana and Senegal to emulate Nigerian Navy to reduce over-dependence on foreign built ships.
According to him, “One key aspects of the Blue Economy is our ability at ship repairs and building. In the Nigerian Navy strategic Plan 2021 to 2030, we have made that aspect of ship building as part of our goal.
“So we intend to achieve at least 60 percent of local ship building capability before 2030. We have the Seaward Defence Boat one, two and three but we have it in our agenda now to ensure we redouble our efforts in this regard.”
This, the CNS noted, would break the jinx of capital flight hence he called for collaboration with other navies in the region, such as Ghana and Senegal, to emulate indigenous ship building and deemphasize
over-reliance on imported ships.
The CNS used the opportunity to challenge Research Institute; especially the International Maritime Institute of Nigeria (IMION) to be inaugurated tomorrow, Saturday, 1st June, 2024, to come up with viable options that could be leveraged on to improve funding for the protection of the Blue Economy in Nigeria and in the sub-region.
“The Nigerian Navy’s commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which promotes the freedom of the sea and legitimate use of marine resources for the benefit of mankind, cannot be over-emphasized.
“That is one of the overriding principles of this nation and the Nigerian Navy is solidly behind that principle and we are ready to work with our international and regional navies to promote that principle even beyond our waters up to the entire Gulf of Guinea,” the CNS reiterated.
On his part, the Special Guest of Honour, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa commended the Nigerian Navy for its ingenuity at fostering healthy maritime sector galvanizing into economic prosperity and by extension, a much more secured maritime environment in the Gulf of Guinea (GOG).
