– AUSSIE INT’L FLEET REVIEW –
Nigerian Navy does Africa proud
… Earns Naval chief’s commendation
Confirming the place of Nigeria as a maritime nation, the Nigerian Navy (NN) is the sole representative of the African continent at the ongoing Royal Australian International Fleet Review in Sydney.
Consequently, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba, has commended the performance of officers and ratings of the NNS Thunder, at the Australian event.
The Director of Navy Information, Cdr. Kabiru Aliyu, in a statement in Abuja, said that Ezeoba’s commendation came when the Navy chief visited Australia to inspect the ship.
The Navy chief, according to the statement, had urged the crew of NNS Thunder not to relent, noting that the objective of their participation in the event was to do Nigeria proud.
The statement quoted Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Australia, Mr Ayo Olukanni, as commending President Goodluck Jonathan for the participation of the NNS Thunder in the event.
Olukanni said that it would go a long way in correcting whatever bad impressions the Australians had about Nigerians.
The statement quoted the Chief of the Royal Australian Navy, Vice Admiral Ray Griggs, as expressing delight at the presence of NNS Thunder, the only African ship, at the review.
Griggs, according to the statement, said that “this made the whole show a global affair.”
The ongoing international fleet review started last Thursday with 37 ships assembling at Javis Bay for onward movement to Sydney, the venue of the historic event.
The event, which is expected to end on Friday, is featuring a multi-national sea exercise and other events intended to showcase the cordial relationship among global maritime forces.
In 2007, two Nigerian Navy ships, NNS Aradu and NNS Obula, participated in an international maritime exercise at the Brazilian navy centenary celebration.
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