The Nigerian Navy recently announced the acquisition of two high-endurance offshore patrol vessels from Dearsan Shipyard in Turkey.
These vessels are intended to enhance maritime security in the region.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, disclosed this in Calabar on Wednesday while delivering a lecture at the Naval Warfare Course 8.
The CNS, in the lecture titled ‘Vision and Mission for the Nigerian Navy’, said that the vessels were acquired as part of his fleet renewal mission for the navy.
“The objective of the fleet renewal policy is to develop a system capable of sustaining effective and round-the-clock presence in the exclusive economic zones,” he said.
“All these are being done in defence of Nigeria’s maritime interests. We have categorised the fleet renewal under short, medium, and long-term plans. We have acquired three combat helicopters for the air arm and strategic military drones for the Nigerian Navy arm,” he disclosed.
He further disclosed that the long-term plan included taking delivery of the high endurance offshore patrol of 76m and the 20 houseboats under construction by the Naval Shipyard Limited.
Ogalla revealed that the curriculum of the Navy War College would be improved to make it more sustainable for contemporary and evolving dynamics in the maritime environment.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Naval Warfare Course 8 have 24 participants, which includes 17 naval officers and two officers each from the air force and army.
The three other officers in the course were said to have come from Cameroon, Ghana and Guinea Bissau.
