The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has commended the efforts of the Nigerian Navy in acquiring new platforms to increase its fighting power against criminalities and illegalities within Nigeria’s territorial waters and the Gulf of Guinea.
This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja by Director, Press and Public Relations of the Ministry of Defence, Victoria Agba-Attah
According to the statement, the Minister stated this on Saturday at the Passing out Parade of batch 34 Trainees of Nigerian Navy Basic Training School in Onne, Rivers State.
“The newly acquired platforms would serve as enablers to increase the Nigerian Navy’s dominance and influence in the fight against crude oil theft, illegal refining, pipeline vandalism, piracy, and illegal, unreported, unregulated fishing activities,” he said.
According to him, the new platforms would further expand the reach and coverage of the Nigerian Navy’s patrol capabilities within the backwaters and the inland waterways, FOB LEKKI, FOB EKPE, naval bases OGUTA, NOP TARKWA BAY, and NOP SHAGUNU, that were recently established.
It further added that while speaking to the 1,865 trainees of batch 34, the Minister charged them to hold strongly to the core values of the Nigerian Navy based on integrity, professionalism, and teamwork, pointing out that they are the keys to victory in any assigned task.
He commended the efforts of the Nigerian Navy, saying that with enough trained personnel and the acquisition of the new platform, the fight against criminalities and illegalities in the Nigerian waters and those of the Gulf of Guinea would reduce drastically.
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