Maritime Security: U S donates equipment worth $180,000 to Nigerian Navy

Maritime Security: U S donates equipment worth $180,000 to Nigerian Navy

(By Udeme Clement):

In a bid to enhance security surveillance on waterways, the United States (U S) has donated maritime security equipment worth $180,000 ((N70million) to the Nigerian Navy.

Claire Pierangelo, the U S Consul General in Lagos, handed over the equipment at the Naval Station Beecroft.

According to her, provision of the equipment becomes necessary to enable Nigerian Navy upgrade anti-piracy and nautical security functions of the country’s Regional Maritime Awareness Capability (RMAC).

She inforned, “The equipment are donated to improve the capacity of Navy to monitor and counter marine threats through its RMAC.”

“She added, “The U S is committed to supporting Nigerian Navy in its effort towards securing not only its territorial waters but the Gulf of Guinea.

“The equipment we have here is part of RMAC that began in 2006. The aim is to enhance the capacity of Nigerian Navy  in monitoring and tracking diverse maritime threats in the Gulf of Guinea.”

Recall that RMAC was developed in 2006, to upgrade maritime domain awareness capability of US partners. As such, the equipment donated are integrated to improve the capacity of Navy in countering marine threats through its RMAC.

She said that two ex-U S Coast Guard Cutters now known as NNS OKPABANA and NNS THUNDER, were transferred previously to Nigerian Navy.

Accordingly, Rear Admiral Tanko Yakubu Pani, Chief Staff Officer, Western Naval Command, Lagos, received the security equipment on behalf of Nigerian Navy, even as he acknowledged the positive impacts introduction of maritime facilities brought to the Navy.

He expressed great pleasure about the support from the U S.

His assertions, “It is pertinent to state that introduction of Regional Maritime Awareness Capability facilities in the Nigerian Navy has enhanced our maritime policing efforts through intelligence-gathering patrols.

“We are indeed grateful for the continuous support of the U S”.

The donations include selection of best-in-class sensors/ radars, communications/ networking equipment, thermal-imaging cameras and software.

The RMAC became fully operational in 2008 and has radar sites in Badagry, Formoso, Bonny and Ibaka, with
operations posts in Lagos, Yenagoa, Calabar and Abuja.