The Nigerian Navy on Wednesday took delivery of 50 assault gunboats and drones donated by Aiteo Global Group to enhance maritime operations.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Awwal Gambo, while receiving the equipment said the donation is a result of months of strategic planning ad collaboration with critical maritime stakeholders to support naval operations.
According to him, the assets would be deployed to the creeks to rid the nation’s maritime environment of criminal elements and economic saboteurs as well as enhance the navy’s maritime security architecture.
While commending the Aiteo Global group for donations, Gambo encouraged other corporate institutions to key into the lines of the group to donate equipment that would enable the navy to halt the growing criminal activities.
Speaking at the event, Governor Nyesom Wike, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, expressed gratitude to Aiteo for the donations, as he reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting lives and property in the state.
The Minister of Defence, Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi (rtd.), noted that the maritime environment was responsible for about 70 percent of the country’s revenue, as he stressed that the rising activities of illegal oil bunkers and pipeline vandals are of great threat to the nation’s revenue generation.
He added that the activities of oil pipeline vandalism have led to environmental degradation in the Niger Delta while stressing the need to brace up defensive measures including the surveillance and prompt interception of threats.
Also present at the occasion was the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Iraboh, who said the new hardware would complement other internal security operations across the country as he assured that the equipment will be put to good use.
In his speech, the representative of the Chief Executive Officer of Aiteo, Mr. Andrew Oru said the company’s donations to the navy are to help them curtail crimes and secure the waterways.
Delivered were 21 gunboats, 14 operational patrol boats, 7 houseboats, 4 airboats, 4 high-speed interception inshore patrol boats, 4 long-range surveillance drones, and 6 high definition cameras.(NAN)
