Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Dele Johnson Ezeoba will today hold a crucial talk with some stakeholders in the maritime sector on how to surmount the numerous security challenges currently confronting the country.
On his official decoration as CNS by President Goodluck Jonathan, Ezeoba had been mandated, alongside his predecessor in office and now Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim to flush out all criminals in the sector.
Since his emergence, he has declared war on criminals in the creeks and only recently took the war to their camp, via Operation Farauta, which led to the arrest of criminals.
Those expected at the meeting include the Ministers of Finance, Petroleum Resources and Defence, as well as Chief Executives of major oil corporations.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Navy ships, NNS THUNDER and NNS BURUTU have arrived Douala, Cameroon, for a scheduled annual International Maritime Sea Exercise code-named OBANGAME EXPRESS 2013.
The sea exercise, which will involve 15 nations including Nigeria, USA, Spain, Belgium and other Gulf of Guinea states, will bold from 25th to 27th February 2013. The ships left Port Harcourt, Nigeria on 17th February 2013 and arrived Douala on Tuesday
The Nigerian Air Force Maritime Patrol Aircraft, which will form part of the Nigerian Contingent, is expected to join the contingent before the commencement of the exercise.
The Nigerian contingent was received on arrival by Nigerian Defence Attaché, Navy Captain Patrick Chibueze Nwatu; representative of the Consul General of Nigeria in Duala, Mr Obed Aluko; Deputy Defence Attaché, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Onoja and other Embassy Staff.
According to a statement by Lieutenant Commander Jerry Omodara, the public relations officer, during his visit to the ships, Defence Adviser, Captain Patrick Nwatu received the Nigerian Navy contingent on behalf of the Nigerian Ambassador to Cameroon, Her Excellency Ambassador Hadiza Mustapha as well as the entire staff of the Nigerian Embassy and Nigerian’s resident in Cameroon.
He described Nigeria’s participation in the annual sea exercise as a welcome idea, as it would enhance the Nigerian Navy’s performance of its statutory duty of policing the nation’s maritime environment and the Gulf of Guinea, as well as showcasing Nigeria’s capability in maritime defence.
The Nigerian Contingent Commander, who is also the Commanding Officer, NNS THUNDER, Captain Adeseye Ayobanjo expressed the happiness of the contingent with the exercise in Cameroon having taken part in the 2012 edition. He thanked the Nigerian Ambassador to Cameroon, the Defence Attaché and other Embassy staff for the warm reception, saying the exercise is a good avenue for training and exchange of ideas on the security of the Gulf of Guinea.
While en route, the two Nigerian Ships carried out patrols and training exercises, including search and rescue, as well as boarding and interrogation. The two ships would participate in the pre-deployment training before the commencement of exercise. Nigeria hosted the 2012 Edition in Calabar which was participated in by 11 countries..
