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· Latest ship to consume over N200m AG0

· As fmr CNS, Ezeoba, urges FG to make resources available for maintenance

By Evelyn Usman

The Nigerian Navy has inducted a Landing Ship Tank, 100 NNS KADA, into its fleet , in a move to enhance its deterrence capability against maritime crimes and illegalities within the nation’s maritime domain and in the Gulf of Guinea.

Speaking at the reception ceremony of NNS KADA, held at NNS Beecroft parade ground,yesterday, in Apapa, Lagos, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, stated that the vessel would also serve as a force multiplier to project power, respond to humanitarian crises as well as convey relief materials in support of non-kinetic operations within the region and beyond.

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He said NNS KADA would further boost the Nigerian Navy’s capability in support of ECOWAS mandate, adding that the Navy was expecting approval for an additional vessel from the Federal Government that would assist its operation.

The CNS said “NNS KADA will help in our humanitarian relief services which could be rendered by the Nigerian Navy, it will assist in the sealift of our troop, when operating with the two sister services: the Army and the Air Force. We have the helicopter landing deck here, it will enhance our operation.

“Maritime crimes are planned on land and executed at sea. With the collective efforts of our regional Navies, it will assist in curbing piracy further. Like you know the International Maritime Bureau has delisted Nigeria from piracy prone countries on March 3,2022, and we must continue to sustain efforts to maintain the feat so far achieved because would be maritime criminals will continue to retsrategise in performing their crimes and we also will remain on top of our game, with regional partners and other stakeholders like NIMASSA, NPA,NDLEA and others ,towards curbing these crimes in our water”.

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He recalled that about a year ago , the Navy welcomed the State-of-the-art Hydrographic Survey vessel – NNS LANA from France.

“A year later, sequel to a colourful Change of Flag Ceremony on April 1, 2022 at Sharjah, in United Arab Emirates, I, in company of very senior dignitaries and government officials, bid NNS KADA farewell on her homebound voyage. After riding on waves at sea for 56 days and covering a distance of 8,414.34 nautical miles, we are here to say welcome.

“NNS KADA’s maiden voyage afforded the ship’s company the opportunity to pay port calls in five countries, which include: Port Duqm in Oman, Port Mombasa in Kenya and Port Cape Town in South Africa. Others are: Port Luanda in Angola and Port Gentil in Gabon. These port calls were in line with the Nigerian Navy’s diplomatic role, an opportunity to further consolidate the nation’s relations with friendly littoral states and allies”, he stated.

He was however quick to add that acquisition of the Ship could not have been possible without the support and commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari , “ whose desire is for the NN to have the requisite capability to meet her constitutional mandate for the nation’s economic prosperity.
In an interview with journalists, former Chief of Naval Staff, Dele Ezeoba, who was present at the ceremony, noted that the latest ship was the biggest Landing Ship Tank in the Africa continent.

He therefore charged the Federal Government to make resources available for the Navy for maintenance of the ship , in order to sustain it .

He said, “What is important at this point is for the public to understand the import of sustaining this very credible platform. I want to say categorically that this is about the biggest LST in the whole of Africa as we speak today. Having gone round the ship, I have come to terms with the technicalities and the high level of equipment that are on board.

“What is important at this time is to consider the requirement for sustainability of this very platform. Global best practices demand that at least 40 percent of the cost of this ship should be made available for yearly maintenance and that it has to be appropriated by the National Assembly, otherwise we will have a challenge in terms of containing and sustaining this very laudable platform.

“The capability of this ship has been clearly enunciated by the CNS but what is important is that we must as a matter of priority, consider buying a second one to support this and then ensure that we provide the Navy with the required logistics that will drive and make sure this vessel is available 24 hours a week and 365 days.

“Another area of importance is the consumption of the lubrication oil and of course the AGO to drive this ship. From what I gathered from the Commanding Officer, it requires about 360,000 litres of AGO. Multiplied by N605 naira, it gives you a clear idea for what it requires to drive this ship for two weeks. These are two critical areas of need that I will request the government to consider and ensure they provide those enablers to allow the Navy to discharge its mandate as it should”, Ezeoba said.

Earlier in his welcome remark, the Flag Officer Commanding, FOC Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Yakubu Wambai, noted that in the course of discharging its constitutional responsibility, the Navy faced numerous challenges such as crude oil thefts, illegal bunkery , smuggling and piracy among other maritime crimes.

In its resolve to ensure that the challenges are annihilated, the Nigeria Navy according to him, “ formulated a strategic plan that will enhance optimal performance in the 21 century, one of the pillars of this strategic plan was fleet renewal that was made to replace the aging fleet.

“I wish to assure you that the induction of the Nigeria Navy Ship Kada will ensure operation and better security and safety of the maritime space in Nigeria”.