By Adedapo Adesanya
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, has said that the four new ballistics gunboats launched by the Nigerian Navy, would boost the fight against oil theft and sea piracy in the Niger Delta region.
This is as the Nigerian Navy has inducted four armoured gunboats built at the Naval Shipyard Limited in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The Defence Chief explained that the induction of the ballistic gunboats, built locally, reaffirmed the resolve of the Armed Forces to clear all illegalities and criminalities at the nation’s maritime space.
Mr Irabor added that the new platforms will provide the needed protection for troops patrolling the nation’s maritime environment to prevent internal and external threats.
He also announced that plans have been concluded to develop the nation’s military Industrial Complex capability to meet its local defence need.
“Unarguably, Nigeria’s maritime environment is a reservoir of natural resources, including oil and gas, that constitute the mainstay of Nigeria’s economy.
“So, the protection of these resources is a priority for the Federal Government to sustain socio-economic activities and enhancement of peace and stability of the Niger Delta.
“At the core of our commitment is the provision of adequate logistics support to our troops deployed in the region and across the country.
“So, this goes as a warning to all recalcitrant elements posing threats to peace and security of our maritime space that we are taking the war to them.
“The Defence Headquarters shall not relent in providing the needed resources to Operation Delta Safe to ensure the security of the Niger Delta.”
Also speaking, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, said the gunboats will bolster the operational capacity of the Joint Task Force Operation Delta Safe in the Niger Delta region.
Aduragbemi Omiyale