The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria Navy

  • Navy seizes 825 bags of rice

    The Nigeria Navy on Sunday said it intercepted 825 bags of smuggled rice coming from Oyo State to Kwara State.

    Parading the suspected smugglers and their commodity in Offa, Offa local government of Kwara State, Commandant Nigeria Navy School of Health Sciences, Capt Ayodele Olowolagba, said the arrest was made around 5am yesterday.

    He said: “This morning around 5am, while conducting checks at the old checkpoint, opposite Nigerian Navy School of Health Sciences, Offa gate, 15 vehicles both Peugeot and Golf cars were arrested.

    “Each of them carries 55 bags of foreign rice, totalling 825 bags of rice. The commodities in the car would be handed over to the police.

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    “Nigerian Navy is a friendly force. We are committed to making sure that all the activities of the government are carried out peacefully. As I said earlier, we would hand over all the 15 vehicles with all the 825 bags of foreign rice to the police.”

    The commandant said his men have been conducting security test on designated checkpoints situated along Ira Road, Oyun Local Government Area, located in front of the school to beef up security in Offa and his neighbouring towns.

    “In the course of carrying this exercise daily, Nigerian Navy personnel have been engaging persons with illicit acts to the extent that they often threaten to deal with security personnel on official duty.

    “Despite the threat, the personnel are uncompromising and resolute in carrying out their legal duties. This is despite the allegation by these smugglers that the Navy personnel are compromising. It should be noted that the personnel will support the Federal Government in curbing this illicit act which impacts negatively on the nation’s socio-economic life,” he said.

  • Senate committee advocates more funding for NAF

    The Senate Committee on Navy has called for more funding for the Nigeria Air Force (NAF), to assist it in its critical role of safeguarding the country’ territorial integrity.

    The Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Duro Faseyi made the call at the NAF’s budget defence exercise on Thursday in Abuja.

    While decrying that the 2018 Budget had capital release of less than 50 per cent, Faseyi said more was needed to be done in terms of releases to the NAF.

    He noted that, “The problem is under-funding, because the Air Force is saddled with so much responsibility like surveillance and many more.

    “The 2018 budget did not even have up 50 per cent capital release. We had to roll it over to this year.

    “Their job is enormous yet the funding is poor. They are the ones that would spot attacks and areas that should be on red attack before those on land go ahead to attack.

    “Besides, they are useful in other areas like lifting of electoral materials, particularly in the last elections.

    “Everything about air is expensive including fueling. The jet A One, for instance, is very expensive. So, how do we expect them to carry out their mandate effectively with poor funding?”

    The chairman while appreciating efforts made by President Muhammadu Buhari in coming to their aid when necessary, however, said beyond that, the NAF’s budgetary allocation should be increased.

    He said the committee on its part would approach Committee on Appropriation and the Minister of Budget and National Planning to make a special case for increment.

    “Budgeting process is crucial and it is as important as other functions of the Parliament.

    “The desire of the 8th National Assembly for thoroughness and transparency in this year’s exercise, informed its decision to suspend plenary and other legislative engagements so that this year’s appropriation exercise gets the required attention.

    “There is no gain saying the fact budgeting is important for planning.

    “One is not unaware that the Air Force is a very expensive force. None of us is oblivious of the fact that our Armed Forces have had a long history of persistent under-funding.

    “However, the realities of the times we live in, compels us to be more prudent and set our priorities in such a way that they are in tandem with our collective desire to ensure judicious and equitable allocation of our scarce resources,” he said.

    He commended the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar for his effort to reposition the NAF.

    Presenting the budget, The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar said the NAF had made tremendous process in carrying out its core mandate.

    He said the NAF was constitutionally vested with protecting the territorial integrity of the nation and assisting civil authority when called upon.

    “The Air Force has been actively engaged in combating several security challenges bedeviling the nation which include act of terrorism, kidnapping, armed banditry and militancy among others.

    “The NAF is involved in several operations. Some of which include Operations Lafiya Dole in the North East, Diran Mikiya in the North West and Yanchin Tafki in the Lake Chad Basin to mention a few.

    “With your support, this administration has increased the serviceability status of NAF aircraft from about 40 per cent to an average of 80 per cent today.

    “The improved serviceability status enabled us carry out over 43, 000 sorties of about 57,000 flying hours between June 15 and Feb. 18 for various operations.

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    “These include 20,140 flying hours for Intelligence and Surveillance that enabled the NAF to get real time information to assist surface forces and NAF aircraft carry out precise attacks if necessary.

    “The NAF has also substantially increased its aircraft fleet by inducting 22 new aircraft into its fleet and reactivated erstwhile unserviceable ones, while eight others are currently being overhauled,’’  he said.

    The Chief of Air Staff noted that NAF would soon take delivery of “qty 2 Augusta 109 Power helicopters which were appropriated by the committee and another MI-35M gunship helicopter.”

    He noted that NAF would take delivery of “a C-130H aircraft in a few weeks after an in-country Periodic Depot Maintenance.

    “The NAF has also created new commands and units all over the country. We have created the Special Operations Command, Air Training Command and Ground Training Command in Enugu.

    “Some of the new units created have enjoyed NAF presence in Nguroje, Shari, Bauchi, Daria, Domain and Gusau.”

    He said in the area of enlistment and recruitment “the administration has a total of 669 Officers and recruited 7, 693 Airmen and Airwomen.

    “Presently 206 Officers are in training while the NAF plans to recruit about 2000 airmen and airwomen this year.

    “We have also enhanced our Force Projection and Force Protection through the training of about 4000 Regiment Personnel and over 1000 Special Forces personnel locally and abroad.

    “The NAF was only recently called upon to assist the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to airlift about 692 tons of electoral materials to 31 different locations in the country.” (NAN)

  • NIMASA hands over rescue helicopter to Navy

    The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) on Friday handed over its 16-seater AW149 Search and Rescue helicopter to the Nigeria Navy (NN) for better maritime domain security.

    The handover, according to NIMASA’s Executive Director Operations, Rotimi Fasakin, followed a directive from President Muhammadu Buhari that the helicopter which was acquired by NIMASA in 2007 be handed over to the NN.

    The Nation reports that the helicopter which was developed and produced principally by AgustaWesland, now Leonardo Helicopters, has twin engines and the capability to perform different roles such as Search and Rescue, VIP airlift, offshore transport, firefighting, maritime patrol, law enforcement, emergency medical service and disaster relief.

    Speaking at the Naval Air Base Ojo, Lagos, Friday evening, Fasakin noted that the aircraft, which could perform some military operations, had always been domiciled with the navy.

    He said although the navy always had operational control over it, with the presidential directive, all documents and other accessories of the helicopter would be handed over to the service.

    Fasakin said: “It has been a long journey. The helicopter was purchased by NIMASA in April 2007. Two years after its purchase, NIMASA entered into an MoU with the navy. Since then, both agencies have had strong partnership in safeguarding the nation’s maritime domain.

    “Ever since the aircraft was purchased, it has been under the operational management of the NN. The aircraft is also suited for a few military operations so, the president in his wisdom deemed it fit that NIMASA formally hands over to the navy and that is what we have done.

    “Since its acquisition, the RESCUE 1 has flown a total of 243 hours and 45 minutes. It has been successfully deployed for various operations.

    “The partnership with the NN has been very strong, effective, effectual and efficient. It has helped to give NIMASA the needed teeth to bite within the Nigeria maritime space. It has helped NIMASA carry out its constitutional mandates.”

  • Navy seize N70m stolen diesel, arrest 12 suspects

    Navy seize N70m stolen diesel, arrest 12 suspects

    The Nigeria Navy said it had impounded a vessel and two large wooden boats both transporting 240,000 litres of stolen diesel worth N70 million.

    The commander of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, Port Harcourt, Commodore William Kayoda, disclosed this to newsmen in Port Harcourt on Wednesday

    Kayoda said that a total 12 suspects were arrested on board the vessel and boats.

    He said the seizure was part of ongoing clampdown on oil theft, piracy and pipeline vandalism in the maritime domain in Rivers and its environs.

    “In continuation of our clampdown on activities of oil thieves, troops of NNS Pathfinder impounded one vessel MV Omisan loaded with 120,000 litres of petroleum product suspected to be illegally refined diesel.

    “Additionally, two very large wooden barges known as Cotonou boats were equally impounded while carrying about 120,000 litres of stolen diesel in combined capacity.

    “Twelve suspects were arrested on board the vessel and boats and handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and possible prosecution,” he said.

    The commander also said the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Adm. Ibok-Ete Ibas, had given directives to end illegal bunkering within the shortest possible time.

    He expressed optimism that the CNS mandate and current strategies adopted would drastically reduce incessant attacks on oil and gas installations in the Niger Delta.

    According to him, the fight against oil theft and pipeline vandalism was a collective responsibility of all Nigerians to ensure that businesses and commerce thrived in the country.

    “The Nigerian Navy is ever committed and would never tolerate criminality on the waterways, and so, criminals must have a rethink and engage themselves in legitimate businesses.

    “Those who attack our national assets and carry out illegalities on our maritime environment must stop – as they would soon be caught and prosecuted,” he warned.

    Kayoda said that troops of NNS Pathfinder would continue to carry out 24-hour patrol of the waterways and creeks, while maintaining presence at flash points.

    He urged the public to provide the Navy with timely information that would lead to arrest of oil thieves and assured that their identities would be kept confidential.

    A senior detective of the EFCC, Mr Musa Gidado, who received the suspected oil thieves, said the commission would conduct thorough investigation on the matter.

    Gidado said that the suspects would be arraigned if found culpable of the allegations against them.

  • Spanish Navy re-visits Nigeria

    Spanish Navy re-visits Nigeria

    A Spanish Navy Ship, MV RAYO, is scheduled to visit the Western Naval Command of the Nigeria Navy from June 30 to July 3.

    This was contained in a statement signed by the Command’s Information Officer, Lt.-Cdr. Jerry Omodara, and made available to journalists on Friday in Lagos.

    According to the statement, the ship will be received on arrival at midstream by Nigeria Navy Ship NNS ANDONI, and she will escort her to berth at the Naval Base Apapa– NNS Beecroft.

    The statement said that while in Nigeria, the ship company would conduct training onboard with personnel of the Nigerian Navy, on damage control.

    “Other activities include courtesy calls by the Commanding Officer of the Ship to the Oba of Lagos, the Flag Officers Commanding Western Naval Command and Naval Training Command,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the Navy spokesman as saying in the statement.

    The statement said the Spanish and Nigerian Navies would also have a joint press briefing and sporting activities.

  • WAGPCo to engage Navy in pipeline protection

    The West African Gas Pipeline Company (WAGPCo) is to engage the services of the Nigeria Navy for the protection of its pipeline as the firm prepares to resume operation.

    The vandalism of its pipeline near Lome in Togo has kept the firm out of operation for over seven months.

    The General Manager, Corporate Affairs of the company, Harret Wereko-Brobby, told The Nation during the facility tour of the company in Badagry, Lagos that it would engage the Navy of the four countries (Nigeria, Benin Republic, Togo and Ghana) where the company’s pipelines passed to protect the facility from vandalism and attack.

    Specifically, she said the Nigerian Navy will be engaged to help protect the pipeline against sand mining, adding that the arrangement would be extended to protect the offshore aspect of the pipeline. The company has lodged several complaints about the activities of sand miners in the Lagos area of its operation, which it said threatens the safety of the pipeline.

    On conclusion of the arrangement, a combined team of Naval officers from Ghana and Togo would work with their Benin Republic counterparts to patrol the pipelines. She also said WAGPCo would work with the ministry to engage the Naval authorities so that there would be sub-regional cooperation to protect the entire pipeline in the offshore installation

    She said: “It is necessary because we want to make sure that the ships and the fishing community respect the pipeline protection zones that we have. It is compulsory for us to keep them from anchoring close to the pipeline so that similar damage does not occur again. We hope that through this arrangement, the pipeline would be protected against damage.”

    She said the company would continue to have periodic engagement with the media to inform the public about the progress of the company activities.

    “Because there is action going on towards the re-commissioning of the pipeline and some of the activities, we felt that we should bring you here to come and see what is going on and for you also to see that there is no flaring going on here,”she said.

    She said the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the Lagos State Environmental Protection have confirmed that the gas flaring that occurred as part of cleaning the pipeline in preparation for resumption of operation was within allowable limit.

    The WAGPCo Station Supervisor, Agboola Olugbenga, said the company has made remarkable progress in its efforts to bring back the pipeline into service. He said the re-inauguration of the gas pipelines has been contracted out. He added that the company is committed to ensuring that the water and debris that got into the pipeline are completely removed.

    He said: “What we are doing now is the final cleaning base. We need this gas pipeline to be as clean as possible because we don’t want to supply gas that is out of specification to our customers. It is very good for us to ensure that the pipeline we would be using for our business is very clean. The pipeline has been repaired we need to clean out all the dirt that would have gone inside when the pipeline was exposed under the sea.”