The Nigerian Navy has called for more funds to enable it acquire more platforms to improve its sea-going capability and policing of the waterways.
The Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Ilesanmi Alade, who made the call, said since the mainstay of Nigeria’s economy was at sea, there was need for the navy to be properly funded.
He spoke shortly after a naval manoeuvre between the Nigerian Navy and the Royal Navy at the Bight of Benin, explaining that the funds would enable the force protect the country’s oil facilities offshore and also acquire more platforms that would properly position both brown water and blue sea navy.
The naval manoeuvre which saw the participation of three Nigerian Navy vessels, including NNS Burutu, Andoni and Dorina, was in honour of the visiting British Navy vessel, the HMS Iron Duke, which was in the country on three-day diplomatic visit.
The two navies exchanged ideas on boarding and searching at sea, fire fighting, navigation, engineering, damage control and security operations.
Alade said efforts were on at the top level for the Nigerian Navy flagship, the NNS Aradu, to return to sea after many years of inactivity.
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