By Evelyn Usman

Determined to checkmate illegalities in the country’s territorial waters, particularly in the Niger Delta, the Nigeria Navy has concluded plans to send some newly-acquired Offshore Patrol Vessels, OPV, and other patrol boats to the region.

As a first step, a training team from China last weekend concluded a four- month maintenance and training exercise on one of the acquired fleet, NNS Sagbama.

Speaking at a sent forth party for the 19-man training team, the Flag Officer Commanding the Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Jonathan Ango, explained that NNS Sagbama was given to the NN by the Chinese government after the former acquired two OPVs, NNS Centenary and NNS property from the latter.

Ango disclosed that the vessel was a very fast patrol boat that could intercept any vessel which commits crime within a very short time, adding that it was well armed and had the capacity to deploy boat from its stand.

“It can quickly deploy a boat with four SBS men on board. Within the short possible time, she will be leaving here to go and operate within the Niger Delta area in the central naval command,” he said.

Appreciating members of the team for their efforts in putting naval personnel through the training, Ango noted said the exercise was needful since NNS Sagbama was a new class of fleet.

He was, however, quick to add that subsequent first line maintenance on the vessel would be carried out by naval personnel, adding that the NN had a large quantity of the first line consumables within its store depot for that purpose.