Nigerian Navy To Strengthen Ties With South African Counterpart, Says CNS

 The Nigerian Navy (NN)  said it would continue to strengthen the existing relationship with its South African counterpart for better service delivery.
The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) , Vice Adm. Ibok Ete-Ibas, said this when the Chief of the South African Navy, Vice Adm. Mosiwa Hlongwane, paid him a courtesy visit at the Naval Headquarters yesterday in Abuja.
Ibas said the visit would not had come at a better time than now, that the two countries’ oceans needed more protection than ever.
He said this was especially critical given the activities of  sea pirates and crude oil thieves.
The CNS also reminded Hlongwane of the existing relationship between the two countries’ naval organisations  since the  1990s, and the need to further strengthen it for good.
He said the two countries Naval forces initiated strategic a forum where they would be mobilised in safeguarding the oceans for economic development.
He noted that the challenges facing the two countries’ navy was similar, hence the need to collaborate with each other for safety purposes.
Ete-Ibas also said that capacity building should be explored as well as partnership in other areas that could be of great benefits to the two countries’ navy.
Hlongwane expressed delight at the visit and promised to assist the NN for the security of the nation’s water ways.
He said his visit to the Ete-Ibas was in reciprocation of the visit he (the CNS) had earlier paid to his country, promising to explore areas of interest with the NN for better service delivery.
 
 
“Others were the Petroleum and Tanker Drivers’ Union   of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers  and Independent Marketers and Road Transport Associations.
“The task force is constituted to meet weekly till a permanent solution is reached concerning the Apapa gridlocks,” the  PEO said.
She said further that the FRSC had  asked  private park owners at Ogere in Ogun to avail their facilities to accommodate tankers and trucks going into Lagos to ease the congestion.
“Meanwhile,  the enlarged stakeholders, comprising representatives of the Lagos and Ogun State Governments’ would meet quarterly on forging cordial relationship,” the  PEO also said.
Stakeholders comprising traffic authorities, transport unions and port users on Friday gave the trucks and tankers parking indiscriminately 48 hours to vacate Lagos roads.
Similarly, the Lagos State Government also on Friday directed   articulated vehicles  to keep away from Lagos roads until the resolution of the traffic logjam.