EXCLUSIVE: HURRAY!!! Nigerian Navy Ship Thunder finally arrives Lagos from Australia

 The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Thunder on Wednesday arrived Lagos in grand style after a successful participation in the Royal Australian Navy International Fleet Review in Sydney.

This is just as the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba, restated the navy's commitment to ensuring global peace and security especially at this period of growing global security challenges.

The CNS also added that the ship was outside the shores of the country for four months and 10 days, of which 1,834 hours was spent underway covering 22,614 nautical miles.

The vessel which arrived the jetty of the Western Naval Command (WNC), Apapa, Lagos, was received by the CNS; his wife, Mrs. Vivian Ezeoba; the Chief of Engineering, Rear Admiral Emeraku Ijioma and the General Officer Commanding, 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Obi Umahi.

Others were the Flag Officers Commanding WNC, Eastern Naval Command and Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Admirals Ibok-Ette Ibas, Joe Aikhomu and Goddy Ayankpele, respectively, amongst other serving and retired senior officers.

  

The ship had returned to Lagos jetty after its successful participation in the Royal Australian Navy International Fleet Review in Sydney, where they also won the worldwide award for the tug-of-war competition under the command of its Commanding Officer, Captain Clement Atebi.

Ezeoba who was represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans, Naval Headquarters, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogbor, said Nigeria excelled against the 37ships from 17 countries participated at the event.

He said, "The flag show visit undertaken by NNS Thunder has to a large extent enhanced the skills and competence of her crew while affording the NN the opportunity of assessing the state of both the ship and the crew's combat readiness.

"Most importantly, it has further complimented the governments noble efforts under the current democratic dispensation in reassuring our friends and allies of our nation's commitment to global peace and security especially in this time of growing global security challenges."

According to him, the ship during her outbound journey to Australia, made port calls at Luanda in Angola; Cape Town in South Africa; Port Louis in Mauritius, Fremantle and Jervis Bay.

He stated further that upon her return, NNS Thunder made port calls at Albany in Australia; Port Port Louis in Mauritius; Durban in South Africa,  Walvis Bay in Namibia and Port Noire in Congo before arriving Lagos.