First Lady, Remi Tinubu Inaugurates Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel to Enhance Maritime Security
The Nigerian Navy (NN) has achieved a remarkable feat by launching the second 76 meter High Endurance (HE) Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) built in DEARSAN Shipyard Turkey to improve maritime security.
The NN Director of Information, Commodore Adams Aliu stated in a press release that the launch of the 76 meter HE-OPV marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s commitment to safeguarding her territorial waters and combating maritime threats.
He revealed that the development is in accordance with President Bola Ahmed’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Aliu added that the vessel was launched by the First Lady of Nigeria, Dr Oluremi Tinubu while the Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Mohammed Matawalle, Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Ikechukwu Ogalla, the Charge D’Affair Nigerian Embassy Turkey, Ambassador Zayyad Habu Abdusalam and other dignitaries were in attendance.
According to him , Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla noted that the construction of the 2× OPVs commenced in 2022.
” DEARSAN Shipyard is constructing 2 OPVs for the NN and the first OPV was launched on 26 October 2023.I am particularly pleased that the milestones on the vessel construction have been met and I hereby appreciate the management of DEARSON for their efforts so far”
” The construction of the vessel will boost NN fleet renewal efforts for fulfillment of her presence at sea to curb illicit acts such as oil theft, piracy, sea robbery, illegal fishery as well as smuggling of Small Arms and Light Weapons among other crimes in the vast 84,000sqnm of Nigeria’s maritime environment ”
” It will also facilitate harnessing the enormous potentials with Nigeria’s maritime domain in support of Federal Government’s Blue Economy initiatives”.
Aliu noted that the CNS expressed sincere gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for His support towards ensuring the completion of the construction of the OPVs and his commitment to NN fleet renewal aspiration while he extended his appreciation to the Special Guest of Honour, the First Lady of Nigeria, Dr Oluremi Tinubu for accepting the invitation to perform the age long tradition of launching a ship into water for the first time, a role often reserved for female leaders.
