By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
The Chief of Training and Operations, Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral Zakariyya Muhammad has attributed the bubbling activities in country’s territorial waters to the enhanced presence of the Nigerian Navy at sea.
He said this has restored the confidence of merchant ships and other maritime stakeholders in conducting legitimate activities.
Rear Admiral Muhammad stated this at the closing of the four-day naval operation codenamed “Exercise Nchekwa Oshimiri 2023″.
He said the Navy has successfully secured the country’s territorial waters, establishing a formidable shield against criminal activities and ensuring a safe passage for merchant shipping.
“Our enhanced presence at sea had restored the confidence of merchant ships and other maritime stakeholders in conducting legitimate activities,” he said.
“The operation saw patrol boats and warships strategically deployed across Nigeria’s territorial waters, effectively deterring any potential threats.
“Exercise Nchekwa Oshimiri has enhanced the training of personnel onboard our ships for better performance in delivering our constitutional mandate of securing Nigeria’s maritime domain,” he said.
“So, our increased presence at sea has given more confidence to merchant ships to carry their trade without fear or threat from maritime criminal elements.
“This exercise has also improved security within the wider GoG because our sister navies and countries are abreast that we are conducting this exercise,” he added.
Commanding Officer, Nigeria Navy Ship (NNS), Kada, Navy Capt. Tony Archibong described the exercise as a huge success as it will
He said Exercise Nchekwa Oshimiri was part of actionable steps taken to end oil theft, sea robbery, sea piracy and illegal unreported and unregulated fishing, among others, in Nigeria’s waters.
According to him, the exercise was used to improve operational capability of Navy’s fleets and stimulate real-time operational scenarios.
“During the exercise, we had a merchant vessel stimulate a rogue vessel engaged in anti-piracy for which we dispatched NNS Aba and NNS Oji to intercept, board, seize and search the rogue vessel.
“The exercise is used to build confidence in our security architecture aimed to secure the maritime environment for mariners to continue to carry out their trade and economic activities.
“Therefore, this will benefit both the Nigerian people and other maritime stakeholders using our waters,” he said.
The four-day exercise, tagged ‘Chief of the Naval Staff 2023 Annual Sea Inspection’, featured 13 warships, 88 patrol boats, two helicopters and 4,000 personnel.
