IBADAN – The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Usman Jibrin, said on Thursday that continued collaboration among the security forces was the answer to curbing maritime insecurity and enhancing national development.
Jibrin made the remark at a public lecture he delivered at the University of Ibadan, as part of activities to commemorate the golden jubilee anniversary of the institution’s Department of Political Science.
The lecture is entitled: “Curbing Insecurity in Nigeria’s Maritime Domain for National Development”.
Represented by Rear Adm. Raphel Osondu, the naval chief said that curbing the myriad of insecurity pathogens in the nation’s maritime environment would involve a robust and effective surveillance system.
According to him, the Navy is a highly technical force that needs to constantly adapt to developments in the maritime environment.
“It is an undisputable fact that Nigeria’s economic centre of gravity lies within the maritime domain, which falls within the operational sphere of the Nigeria Navy.”
He said that a conducive, safe and secure atmosphere would, therefore, be vital to harnessing the enormous resources in the maritime domain for national development.
Jibrin said that the threats that constitute security challenges in the country’s maritime domain were due to both internal and external factors.
He explained that the threats manifested in the form of crimes such as crude oil theft, illegal bunkering, piracy, smuggling, illegal arms trade, drugs and human trafficking.
“In spite of these challenges to the Nigerian Navy’s operational effectiveness, the Navy is constantly evolving strategies aimed at surmounting the myriad of security challenges in the maritime domain.”
“The strategy includes the application of the maritime trinity of actions comprising surveillance capabilities, response initiatives and enforcement action,” he said.
The CNS mentioned some of the efforts at curbing insecurity to include: a targeted patrol regime, the establishment of regional maritime awareness capability centre and regional collaborative efforts.
The Naval Chief, however, said that the Navy would remain undaunted of the challenges as it continues to strive to evolve smarter maritime policing measures.
Earlier, the Head, Department of Political Science, Prof. Osisioma Nwolise, said that the department was concerned about ensuring that the Nigerian Navy was up to the task of fulfilling its mandate.
According to him, Nigeria is a coastal nation with several kilometres of inland waterways, hence the establishment and maintenance of a powerful Navy was imperative.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof Isaac Adewole, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof Idowu Olayinka, said the topic of the lecture was germane, in view of the challenges facing the country.
He said that it was the university’s desire to promote productive civil-military relations, and to learn from the Navy.
“We look forward to the day Nigeria will not only launch its own warships, but also submarines, as our Navy repositions itself for enhanced efficiency,” he added.
The Department of Political Science at the University of Ibadan was founded in 1963. (NAN)
