Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — As part of efforts at ensuring that the nation’s maritime domain remained safe for commerce and economic activities, the Nigerian Navy has flagged off a sea exercise tagged ‘Nchekwa Oshimili‘, (securing the sea).
Flagging off the exercise aboard the Nigerian Navy Ship Kada in Onne, Rivers State, the Minister of State for Defence, Alhaji Muhammad Bello Matawalle, charged the officers and men of the Nigerian Navy to keep up the good work in ensuring that the nation is secured for thriving economic activities.
Matawalle who assured of maximum support to the Nigerian Navy, said the efforts emplaced by the Nigerian Navy to organize the exercise which he said was aimed at ridding the nation’s maritime environment of crimes in all ramifications is impressive.
He said, “This exercise and other Nigerian Navy engagements would not have been possible without the support of the President. The operational activities of the Nigerian Navy within the last three months under the leadership of the Chief of Naval Staff has received varying degrees of successes.
“I am aware of other operations and robust efforts through patrols and surveillance which the Navy is carrying out to ensure a safe and secured maritime environment for national economic development. These activities have led to the drastic reduction of maritime crimes leading to improved economic activities.
“The oil production has increased in recent time which is a testament of the effectiveness of the Nigerian Navy operations. Exercise Nchekwa Oshimili will further bolster the existing operations towards enhancing security in our water,” the Minister said.
Earlier, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, said the annual Chief of Naval Staff Sea Inspection, was aimed at accessing the operational state and readiness of the Nigerian Navy fleet to counter emerging maritime security threats in line with the nation’s constitutional mandate.
Ogalla expressed the need for the Nigerian Navy to be fully prepared in all respect as to support existing domestic and regional maritime security initiative of federal government of Nigeria.
According to him, Exercise Nchekwa Oshimili was designed to improve cooperation and intelligence sharing towards enhancing the collective capabilities of maritime stakeholders in Nigeria against maritime crimes.
