EXCLUSIVE: Navy Lists Protection of Offshore Oil Platforms as One its Key Challenges

Asides its continuous quest to fight sea robbery and piracy in the nation's maritime domain, the Nigerian Navy (NN), yesterday listed protection of offshore oil platforms as one of its daunting challenges.

This disclosure, according to the navy is due to the constant sabotage being perpetuated by hoodlums and bunkerers on offshore oil platforms and facilities, adding that the navy is breeding a formidable force that would contend fully with such challenges.

The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Admiral Goddy Anyankpele, made this disclosure at the opening ceremony of the command's annual training conference held in Apapa, Lagos.

The thrust of the conference which was tagged, 'Repositioning the NN professional training for enhanced operational capability', was aimed at producing modalities for holistic approach to training personnel to checkmate emerging challenges in the Nigeria's maritime domain. 

According to the FOC, the sea is one of the veritable sources of national economic development in terms of transit and resource exploitation, has drawn all kinds of attention and challenges towards the maritime environment.

As such, he lamented that the littoral domain is contending with increased maritime security challenges including smuggling, poaching, illegal bunkering, illegal unregulated and unreported fishing, crude oil theft, piracy, drug and human trafficking and maritime terrorism.

He said, "Other daunting challenges we face are the  protection of offshore oil installations and facilities as well as combating seaborne insurgency, environmental degradation and maritime disasters. 

"These challenges require a well trained and efficient naval force to be addressed. Therefore, with effective training, we can develop a formidable force that would enhance the capability of the NN towards contending with these contemporary challenges."

In his speech, the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba, said the multi-faceted security challenges bedeviling the nation and the crucial role the NN is expected to play requires a pragmatic and constant review of the navy's training policy.  

Ezeoba who was represented by the FOC, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas, said there is need to acquire requisite operational capability to achieve optimal efficiency in dealing with the contemporary and emerging operational security threats particularly within the nation's maritime domain.