Matawalle Hails Acquisition of New Platforms to Enhance Navy’s Dominance of Maritime Domain

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, weekend, lauded government’s acquisition of new platforms for the Nigerian Navy to enhance its fighting power against criminalities and illegalities within the Nigerian territorial waters and the Gulf of Guinea.

The minister spoke at the passing out parade of batch 34 Trainees of Nigerian Navy Basic Training School in Onne, Port Harcourt.
“The newly acquired platforms would serve as enablers to increase the Nigerian Navy’s dominance and influence in the fight against crude oil theft, illegal refining, pipeline vandalism, piracy and illegal unreported, unregulated fishing activities,” he said.

He affirmed that the new platforms would further expand the reach and coverage of the Nigerian Navy patrol capabilities within the back waters and the inland waterways, notably, Forward Operating Base Lekki, FOB Ekpe, naval base Oguta, NOP Takes Bay and NOP Shangunu.
While speaking to the 1,865 trainees of the batch 34, the minister charged them to hold strongly to the core values of the Nigerian Navy rooted on integrity, professionalism and teamwork, pointing out that the remain key to victory in any assigned task.

He commended the efforts of the Nigerian Navy, saying that with the right number of trained personnel and with the acquisition of the new platform, the fight against criminalities and illegalities in the Nigerian waters and that of the Gulf of Guinea would reduce drastically.