The Nigerian Navy has raised concerns over the challenges being faced by it and the inadequate platform at its disposal in discharging its statutory roles, mostly within the creeks, where pirates and sea robbers are taking the shine of smaller vessels, tankers and trawlers.
The Chief of Naval Staff; Vice Admiral, Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas made the disclosure in a paper presentation titled "Defence of Maritime Resources and Infrastructure Catalysts for Economic Development: Global Efforts Role of the Nigeria Navy" last week in Lagos.
According to him, there are well over 3,200 river entrances, creeks and estuaries between Cape Formoso in Bayelsa State and Bonny River entrance in Rivers State , which he said is notorious for criminal activities and the non-availability of platforms has made the navy handicap to rid the area.
He disclosed further that the navy does not have adequate operational boats to patrol such expanse of huge water adding that inadequate platform poses a serious challenge to naval operations.
Ibas reiterated that the Nigerian maritime domain is characterised by numerous creeks, and rivulets on account of the River Niger and its tributaries noting that there are well over 5200 rivers entrances, creeks and estuaries between Badagry in Lagos state and Bakassi in Cross River state.
The CNC added that, "the current platform holding of the Nigerian Navy is grossly inadequate to positively respond to present and emerging threats"
"The Nigerian Navy relies on NNS Thunder class of ships, the CAT class of ships and a gamut of boats, such as the 38m and OCEA boats for sustained operational deployment which attendant maintenance and logistics challenges"
"Also increasing patrol requirements to check criminal activities such as sea robbery and crude oil theft in the backwater have put a serious strain on the few operational boats as well as on personnel"
"In discharging her statutory roles, the NN is confronted with a number of challenges; these include : platform availability, inter agency cooperation, research and development, industrial capacity and funding", he added.
He noted that some of challenges faced by the blue navy is that fact that there seems to be duplication of role among other sister agencies saying the need for legal framework.
"In realisation of its assistance and coordination responsibilities, the NN has initiated a number of cooperative mechanism with relevant agencies"
"Apart from joint effort with sister services, operational coordination arrangements are in place with other maritime related agencies such as NIMASA, NPA, NNPC and the private sector in the maritime industry"
"However , beyond the bilateral arrangements, there is a gap of a multi lateral mechanism that would facilitate common operational procedures and efficient information sharing"
"It needed to be slated emphatically that this challenge does not translate to the duplication of role through the establishment of new agencies, rather appropriate legal framework, strategy and coordination infrastructure could be considered".
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