Nigerian, Egyptian naval forces seek to strengthen bilateral relations
The leader of the Egyptian Naval Forces Delegation, Commodore Ayman Abubakar who visited the Headquarters Western Naval Command has pledged the commitment of Egypt to strengthen ties with Nigeria in area of Defence acquisition, information sharing and military training.
Commodore Abubakar who was accompanied by Commanders Rummy Abdulsalam and Shraf Habib reiterated that the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Abel Fattah Al-sisi, has great concern to continue to bind the bilateral relations between Egypt and Nigeria.
Commodore Ayman also used the visit to applaud the Nigerian Navy as a strong, reliable and organized navy in the sub region, especially as it concerns protection of the security of the maritime space in the Gulf of Guinea and salvaging of economic activities.
Ayman, mentioned that the Egyptian Naval Force is the maritime branch of the Egyptian Armed Forces and emphasized that it is the largest Navy in the Middle East of Africa and the 5th largest in the world by the number of vessels in the inventory of Egyptian Naval Forces.
Speaking earlier, the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Jason Gbassa, who was ably represented by the Chief Staff Officer Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Habila Zakaria, said that the four -day visit of the Egyptian Naval Forces Delegation to Nigerian Navy was an upshot of an earlier visit of the Nigerian Navy delegation to the Egyptian Naval Forces.
The Chief Staff Officer reiterated that the team would further fortify the bilateral relations that exist between both countries.
Admiral Zakaria added that the visit would also address collaboration on areas of training and defence acquisition, fleet maintenance and renewal amongst others.
Places and ships of interest visited by the Egyptian delegation as mentioned by Rear Admiral Zakaria include, Headquarters Western Naval Command, NNS LANA, NNS KARADUWA, NNS PROSPERITY.
Others are Headquarters Naval Training Command, Nigerian Navy Special Boat Services, Naval Air Base Ojo, Underwater Warfare School amongst others.
