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| Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas |
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas
said the Nigerian Navy has signed Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) with 29
Private Maritime Security Companies (PMSC) to bridge security gap.
said the Nigerian Navy has signed Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) with 29
Private Maritime Security Companies (PMSC) to bridge security gap.
Ibas stated this in a paper presented at the 2015
Annual Lecture, Investiture and Award ceremony of the Certified Institute of
Shipping (CIS), made available to newsmen on Monday in Lagos.
Annual Lecture, Investiture and Award ceremony of the Certified Institute of
Shipping (CIS), made available to newsmen on Monday in Lagos.
The paper was titled “Defence of Maritime Resources
and Infrastructure. Catalyst for Economic Development: Global Efforts – Role of
the Nigerian Navy.”
and Infrastructure. Catalyst for Economic Development: Global Efforts – Role of
the Nigerian Navy.”
He said the Nigerian Navy has also signed an MoU on
Maritime Guard Command with the Nigerian Maritime Administration Safety Agency
(NIMASA) and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
Maritime Guard Command with the Nigerian Maritime Administration Safety Agency
(NIMASA) and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
“Furthermore, the Nigerian Navy streamlined the
operations of private maritime security companies.
operations of private maritime security companies.
“The arrangement has engendered the enabling
environment necessary for uninterrupted crude oil production by the
International Oil Companies (IOCs) and their contractors, thus enhancing
economic development,” Ibas said.
environment necessary for uninterrupted crude oil production by the
International Oil Companies (IOCs) and their contractors, thus enhancing
economic development,” Ibas said.
He also said that the Navy had established an
information sharing mechanism with the Nigerian Trawlers Owners Association, as
a collaborative effort to solve insecurity in Nigeria’s maritime domain.
information sharing mechanism with the Nigerian Trawlers Owners Association, as
a collaborative effort to solve insecurity in Nigeria’s maritime domain.
“Public enlightenment at curbing
crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism is also held regularly. This is in
addition to the setting up of a ‘No Crude Oil Theft’ website www.cot.navy.mil.ng,’’ Ibas said.
crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism is also held regularly. This is in
addition to the setting up of a ‘No Crude Oil Theft’ website www.cot.navy.mil.ng,’’ Ibas said.
He said the Navy also held periodic meetings and
retreats with maritime stakeholders, adding that all these were geared toward
curbing insecurity in the maritime domain for economic development.
retreats with maritime stakeholders, adding that all these were geared toward
curbing insecurity in the maritime domain for economic development.
“The huge potential of the maritime sector despite
being acknowledged as Nigeria’s second largest revenue earner remains largely
untapped due to a myriad of surmountable challenges which include insecurity.
being acknowledged as Nigeria’s second largest revenue earner remains largely
untapped due to a myriad of surmountable challenges which include insecurity.
“Hence, the need for continuous development of
capacity by the Nigerian Navy to carry out her constitutional roles to improve
security in Nigeria’s maritime domain cannot be over-emphasised.
capacity by the Nigerian Navy to carry out her constitutional roles to improve
security in Nigeria’s maritime domain cannot be over-emphasised.
“It is an indisputable fact that Nigeria’s economic
centre of gravity lies within the maritime domain, which falls within the
operational sphere of the Nigerian Navy.
centre of gravity lies within the maritime domain, which falls within the
operational sphere of the Nigerian Navy.
“A conducive, safe and secured atmosphere, therefore,
is vital to harnessing the enormous resources in the maritime domain for
economic development.
is vital to harnessing the enormous resources in the maritime domain for
economic development.
“Herein lies the importance of the Nigerian Navy as a
vital component of state institutions for attainment of the nation’s economic
aspiration,’’ the chief of naval staff said.
vital component of state institutions for attainment of the nation’s economic
aspiration,’’ the chief of naval staff said.
He said that the nation was currently experiencing
some form of insecurity in the maritime environment– with great potential of
impacting negatively on its economic development.
some form of insecurity in the maritime environment– with great potential of
impacting negatively on its economic development.
“Principal among them include: crude oil theft,
pipeline vandalism, hijack of ships, kidnapping, piracy and sea robbery.
pipeline vandalism, hijack of ships, kidnapping, piracy and sea robbery.
“In curbing these maritime security challenges, the
strategic goal of the Nigerian Navy is to re-position the service for enhanced efficiency,
aimed at achieving and sustaining effective capacity.
strategic goal of the Nigerian Navy is to re-position the service for enhanced efficiency,
aimed at achieving and sustaining effective capacity.
“This is to enable the Nigerian Navy carry out her
statutory roles toward curbing insecurity in the maritime domain for enhanced
economic development,’’ the chief of naval staff said.
statutory roles toward curbing insecurity in the maritime domain for enhanced
economic development,’’ the chief of naval staff said.
He said the maritime environment was also susceptible
to threats such as communal agitations, insurgency, pollution and terrorism
among others.
to threats such as communal agitations, insurgency, pollution and terrorism
among others.
“These threats translate into security challenges
within Nigeria’s maritime domain which places demands on the Navy to secure the
Sea Lanes of Communication, as well as protection of oil and gas
infrastructure,’’ Ibas said.
within Nigeria’s maritime domain which places demands on the Navy to secure the
Sea Lanes of Communication, as well as protection of oil and gas
infrastructure,’’ Ibas said.
He recalled that over the years, the Nigerian Navy had
been stretching its meagre resources to contend with the enormous
responsibilities of safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime frontiers.
been stretching its meagre resources to contend with the enormous
responsibilities of safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime frontiers.
The chief of naval staff also said sustained presence
at sea required a huge outlay of logistic requirements.
at sea required a huge outlay of logistic requirements.
“The petroleum, oil lubricant requirement for NNS
THUNDER to remain at sea for 3 days, for instance, will cost about N45 million.
THUNDER to remain at sea for 3 days, for instance, will cost about N45 million.
“Inadequate funding has also impacted adversely on
the welfare of personnel, such as inadequate barrack accommodation.
the welfare of personnel, such as inadequate barrack accommodation.
“Adequate funding of the Navy is therefore
imperative, considering the insecurity resulting from proliferation of arms and
the colossal loss of revenue by the government predicated on the lack of
credible naval presence in our maritime domain,’’ Ibas said.
imperative, considering the insecurity resulting from proliferation of arms and
the colossal loss of revenue by the government predicated on the lack of
credible naval presence in our maritime domain,’’ Ibas said.
The chief of naval staff commended the management of
the institute (CIS) for maintaining a high standard in training shipping
professionals and proffering solutions to problems and challenges in the
maritime industry.
the institute (CIS) for maintaining a high standard in training shipping
professionals and proffering solutions to problems and challenges in the
maritime industry.
