Effectively Equipping the Navy for Security Operations

Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba 

In its quest to effectively patrol the nation's maritime domain, Chiemelie Ezeobi reports that the Nigerian Navy (NN) recently took possession of five patrol fast boats; the Ocea and Shaldag boats acquired from France and Isreal respectively.

However efficient one is, a workman without his tools is deemed useless, thereby enforcing the ideology that an efficient workman also needs efficient work tools to function. A strong believer in this ideology, the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba, said platform acquisitions
would help the force deliver her statutory responsibilities.

Recently,  the Nigerian Navy (NN) commissioned five newly acquired Ocea and Shaldag boats at the Western Naval Command (WNC), Apapa, Lagos. The boats which were acquired from France and Israel, is expected to stem the rising surge in piracy and crude oil theft especially in the nation's maritime domain. 

The commissioning of the boats came seven months after President Goodluck Jonathan commissioned the  first locally built warship, Nigerian Naval Ship (NNS) Andoni and a year after the First Lady, Patience Jonathan commissioned the nation's flag ship, NNS Thunder F90.

The 15-man crew capacity Ocea fast patrol boat with length 24m and  length of waterline, 19.7m has the beam overall at 5.80m. Also with a maximum draft of 1.50m and the depth of main deck at 3m, the Ocea boats have a Maximum speed of 32 and 15 knots but cruises at 20knots and has a chasing speed of 32knots. It's range of operation is pegged at 400nautical miles at 15knots 

It was gathered that in able to boost the efforts of the NN to show it's presence more at sea, the government had in 2007 approved the quarterly release of coastal patrol operations fund to the force. The fund which is meant to argument the amount provided in the NN annual budget for policing operations were wisely used by the force to consolidate the coast patrol operations fund allocation and used to acquire three Ocea fast patrol boats from France.

Also, the Shaldag fast patrol craft with ab12.7mm gun range and a 23mm twin barrel fore and aft  can also be used for rescue operations. With its length at 24.80m and a breadth of 6m and maximum speed of 45knots, the Shaldag is a high speed boat capable of operating in the nation's territorial waters and beyond.

THISDAY gathered that the NN acquired  its first Shaldag Fast Patrol Craft (FPC) in 2009 but embarked on the acquisition of an additional three in 2011. Although only one was earmarked to be acquired, the naval authorities were able to get three for the price of one. 

During the occasion, about 42 hilux van were given to Naval Warrant officers as a motivating factor in the discharge of their duties and would form part of their entitlement of retirement from the service. 

Dignitaries at the occasion were the Minister of State for Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada; Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Admiral Ola Saad Ibrahim; the service chiefs from the Air force and Police, Air Marshal Alex Badeh and Mohammed Abubakar respectively.

Others include, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Navy, Senator Chris Anyanwu; Chief of Policy and Panning, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogbor; the Special Adviser on Security Matters to Lagos State Government, Major Babatunde Panox (Rtd); the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu and other senior officers.

While fielding questions from journalists, Ezeoba said for the force to effectively deal with the scourge of oil theft, sea robbery and piracy, the navy would require a minimum of 40 of these class of boats in order to dominate the vast expanse of the nation's  territorial waters especially in the current emerging security challenges in the maritime domain.

Ezeoba added that the occasion of the commissioning of the patrol boats was a significant landmark in  the transformation architecture to remodel the NN to adapt to emerging national maritime security challenges pointing out that the force would continue in its drive to root out all forms of illegal activities on the sea.

He said, "We would deploy the boats in the Brass corridor where we have high rate of crude oil theft and pipe line vandalism. With this, we are sure we will checkmate all these illegal activities and reduce it to the barest minimum. 

"Though the boats are small, they are fast. They are designed for security tasks such as interdiction, anti-smuggling, anti-illegal bunkering, sea robbery and piracy.”

He added, "On my assumption of office as the 20th CNS, on October8, 2022, I made a solemn pledge to the President that the NN would emplace proactive operational imperatives that would engender gross reductions in acts of illegalities, particularly crude oil theft in our maritime environment.

"To give verve to that pledge, I promulgated my Strategic Guidance (SG) 1, which encapsulates the broad operational directives and a clearly defined methodology for the attainment of the strategic end state for the current watch on deck.

"This SG further asserted that the main thrust of my watch would be the emplacement of a robust and combat ready fleet which I consider fundamental to the achievement of the Navy's mission which is to 'to discharge its constitutional roles and assigned task in a professional and efficient manner, consistent with global practices for the Defence and protection of Nigeria's territorial integrity."

He added, "It is in this context that the acquisition and subsequent efficient deployment of these boats is an expression of the Navy's commitment to these attainment of its operational objectives. The CDS, Admiral Ibrahim initiated the successful procurement of these boats.

“The features of these boats included very high manoeuvrability with good sea keeping qualities. And in other to ensure proper and efficient deployment of these boats a total of  11 officers and 48 ratings have been successfully trained to man and maintain the boats.

"What we have done is to give teeth to the vessels because they cannot fight on their own. It requires well trained human resource to be able to drive the requirements of getting the vessels to do what they are supposed to do."

The Coordinating Minster of Finance and  Economy, Mrs. Ngozi OKonjo-Iweala, while reiterating the commitment of the Federal Government to fight against crude oil theft and  other illegalities on the nation's waterways said the presidency saw the need to fund the project because most of the resources of the country is from the maritime sector.

While commending her counterpart, Obada and the CNS,  she however said they reached a bargain that before the FG will pump in more money, the NN has to show us results of what they have done.

She added that the president was satisfied with what the NN is doing in the maritime sector especially dealing with the activities of all forms of illegalities in the sea hence the deployment of resources to purchase more boats for its routine patrols.

She said, "The Navy came to me and we had a bargain that for us to put more money, they must show result. You know the president is totally behind the armed forces. So all we are asking them is result and they came with graphs and charts showing what they are doing  to reduce the illegal oil theft and the reason for which they need these patrol boats. 

"When you see results, you are encouraged to put more muscle and money into it. I am personally delighted at what has been achieved and I urge them to continue to work hard so that we can see results."

In her keynote address, Obada said the acquisition will help build the capacity of the NN to ensure effective security in the nation's maritime domain.

She noted that although she was aware of the constraints militating against the efforts of the NN to optimally discharge its statutory duties, especially in the security of the maritime domain, it was however gladdening at their dedication despite the challenges.

She assured the naval authorities of the unflinching support of the Federal Government as they discharge the onerous responsibility of maritime security, adding that the new acquisitions are parts of FG's effort to reposition the service. 

She said, "The acquisition is part of the government's effort to reposition the NN for enhanced operational effectiveness and this initiative of the NN leadership has reinforced my impression about their high level of competence and commitment."

On her part, Anyanwu expressed her happiness over the acquisition noting that the force still needs more and other bigger vessels that have the capacity to go far into the sea to uproot the activities of pirates that have infested Nigerian waters.