Defence Minister Says New Ship Will Boost Naval Operations, Secure Maritime Domain

The Minister of Defence, retired Lt.-Gen. Aliyu Mohammed, said last week  that the acquisition of a new boat, NNS DORINA, was part of the Federal Government's efforts to enhance the operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Navy.
The Minister made the remark during the commissioning of the boat at the Naval Base, Apapa,Lagos.
The Minister, who was represented by the Minister of State for Defence, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro, added that the procurement would boost the capacity of the navy.

The Minister of Defence, retired Lt.-Gen. Aliyu Mohammed, said last week  that the acquisition of a new boat, NNS DORINA, was part of the Federal Government's efforts to enhance the operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Navy.
The Minister made the remark during the commissioning of the boat at the Naval Base, Apapa,Lagos.
The Minister, who was represented by the Minister of State for Defence, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro, added that the procurement would boost the capacity of the navy.
The Minister said that it would reduce constraints militating against the Nigerian Navy in the discharge of its statutory duties of maintaining security in the nation's maritime domain.
“Indeed, it is a memorable quest to boost the capacity of the Nigerian Navy to ensure effective security of Nigeria's maritime environment,’’ he said.
Mohammed said the Federal Government accorded serious priority to security.
“The Federal Government accords top priority to security as one of the pillars of the present administration's transformation agenda,’’ he said.
According to him, the boat is one of the three boats recently acquired by the Nigerian Ports Authority for the Nigerian Navy.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin, said that the newly-acquired boats would enhance professionalism in the navy and boost their operations at sea.
“Let me assure the Federal Government, the Ministries of Transport and Defence, and other stakeholders that the boats will help to boost naval operations at sea,’’ he said.
Jibrin further urged appropriate authorities to ensure that sea criminals arrested were timely and adequately prosecuted, to reduce maritime crimes.
The NNS DORINA was one of the nine Nigerian naval ships that took part in  EXERCISE OBANGAME 2014.
The exercise, which was led by the Nigerian Navy flagship, NNS THUNDER, was held in the Gulf of Guinea from April 19 to April 21.