Lagos – The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, on Wednesday said the Nigerian Navy had performed creditably in securing the nation’s territorial waters in its 60 years of existence.
The CDS spoke at a two-day International Maritime Conference organised as part of activities commemorating the Diamond Jubilee of the Navy.
“The Navy has done well within its available resources, especially in securing the maritime environment,” the CDS said.
Olonisakin said that the armed forces would continue to work together to keep the nation’s maritime environment safe from any form of criminality.
According to the CDS, the armed forces have stepped up the game against militancy in the Niger Delta and warned those involved to desist from any form of sabotage.
The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas, on his part, said that the Navy had been able to reduce robbery and piracy on the nation’s waterways.
”We are expanding the technical aspect of our surveillance to ensure that we curtail the menace.
”The Navy has also built a Sea Ward Defence Boat and it is in the process of inaugurating the second one.
”As to militancy, we are doing the very best we can to get them even before they venture out into the creeks,” the CNS said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the two-day conference, with the theme ‘Enhancing Collaboration for Effective Maritime Security in the Gulf of Guinea’, ended on Wednesday. (NAN)
