By Okey Muogbo
The Nigerian Navy (NN) has commended the Government of President Muhammadu Buhari for procuring more than 20 ships and other supports the Service received in the last eight years.
In practical appreciation, the NN is organising a Presidential Fleet Review (PFR) between May 19th and May 22nd, 2023 in Lagos.
Apart from honouring the President, the PFR is also to mark the end of Buhari’s eight years regime which will be on May 29, 2023.
These were disclosed during a press conference addressed on Wednesday in Abuja by Rear Admiral S. S. Garba on behalf of Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo.
Garba disclosed that three countries, Brazil, Ghana and Spain are scheduled to participate in the PFR adding that Buhari’s support to the Service greatly improved the performance of the Nigerian Navy.
The NN assured Nigerians that the Service was committed to providing security to the people, the country and her assets as well as the Gulf of Guinea area.
Said Admiral Garba, “During the 8-year administration of President Muhammadu Buhari a total of 20 capital ships were procured for the NN. The ships comprise of Offshore Patrol Vessels, Landing Ship Transport, Hydrographic Survey Vessels, Seaward Defence Boats, Helicopters, as well as, over 300 Inshore Patrol Vessels and Assault crafts.
“The President also commissioned 2 locally built ships in 2016 and 2021, and laid the keel for 2 more, which will be ready by 2024. The NN deems it appropriate to honour the Commander-in-Chief for his support to the Service.
“The PFR 2023 is therefore organised in honour of President Muhammadu Buhari, in recognition of his generous contribution to the Service and the nation at large. It is also designed to mark the culmination of Mr President’s tenure”, he said.
Admiral Garba went on to say that “This International Press Conference kick-starts the series of activities lined up for the PFR 2023. The next event is the Ice Breaker which is slated for Friday 19 May 2023 from 5pm – 7pm at the Swimming Pool Side Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. “The event is to welcome participants to Lagos, especially the foreign invited guests. On
Saturday 20 May 2023, there are 3 activities namely; Maritime Discourse at the Admiralty Conference Centre, Naval Dockyard Limited (NDL), Victoria Island, Lagos from 10am – 2pm; the Beach Fair to be hosted by the Naval Officers’ Wives Association (NOWA) at the Landmark Beach, Victoria Island, Lagos by 12 Noon; and the Cultural Night at the Admiralty Conference Centre, NDL, Victoria Island, Lagos from 7pm – 9pm.
“The high point of the PFR-2023 will be on Monday 22 May 2023 at the NDL from 9am – 12noon. During the event, Mr President will review the NN Fleet at anchorage along Lagos channel and commission 2 ships (NNS KADA and NNS IBENO) and a recently acquired NN helicopter”, he added.
There would also be a Guard of Honour for the President, ceremonial sailing Pass Exercise (PASSEX), combat and aerial displays, capability demonstration by NN Special Forces, defence/maritime expo exhibition, combined naval parade and exercises adding that the PFR involves 16 NN warships, 3 x AW109E NN helicopters and a mix of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Aircraft.
The participating NN ships according to Garba are: NNS THUNDER, NNS CENTENARY, NNS IKENNE, NNS KADA, NNS LANA, NNS KANO, NNS NGURU, NNS IBENO, NNS ABA, NNS OJI, NNS ANDONI, NNS OSUN, NNS OSE, NNS EKULU, NNS GONGOLA and NNS SHIRORO. Also, the participating NAF aircraft are 1 x MI35 Helicopter, 1 x Diamond-42, 1 x ATR-42 MPA and 3 x A29 Super Tucano he further disclosed. “Some foreign warships from allied nations including Spain, Brazil and Ghana are also expected to participate in the exercise. As a way of rounding off, a Gala Night will be hosted in the evening of Monday 22 May 2023 at the NDL, Victoria Island, Lagos”, he stated.
Below is the fulltext of the press conference:
TEXT OF AN INTERNATIONAL PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE NIGERIAN NAVY PRESIDENTIAL FLEET REVIEW 2023 ON FRIDAY 12 MAY 2023 DELIVERED BY REAR ADMIRAL SAIDU SULEIMAN GARBA CHIEF OF POLICY AND PLANS NAVAL HEADQUARTERS ABUJA
Protocol
1. It is with great pleasure that I, on behalf of the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo CFR AM, officers, ratings and civilian staff of the Nigerian Navy (NN) welcome you to the Naval Headquarters this morning for the International Press Conference on the NN Presidential Fleet Review (PFR) 2023, scheduled to hold from Friday 19 – Monday 22 May 2023 in Lagos. The theme of the PFR-2023 is ‘Fleet Readiness for National Prosperity’. This theme was carefully chosen to underscore the essence and value of the NN, as a responsive naval force poised towards the attainment of national prosperity.
2. Permit me to inform this audience that PFRs are traditional events, which navies across the world conduct in order to honour their sovereigns or heads of government. It involves assemblage of ships and other maritime assets at a designated area for the purpose of demonstrating loyalty and allegiance to the State. The review also provides an avenue for the President to assess the navy’s preparedness to meet statutory obligations in maritime security, safety and defence within a global/regional collaborative approach. During a PFR, the president/head of state is invited to review the fleet in commemoration of a historical event, celebration of important anniversary or any other activity deemed necessary. Some of the occasions to organise a fleet review include special landmarks of either the navy or the country.
3. The NN has attended many Fleet reviews with the nation’s Flag Ship, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) ARADU particularly, in the UK in 2005 to celebrate the Bi-centenary of the battle of Trafalgar and in 2007 in Brazil to celebrate the centenary of the Brazilian Navy. NNS THUNDER also sailed to Australia in 2013 to celebrate the centenary of the Australian Navy. More recently, the NN sent personnel to participate in the Bangladesh Navy Fleet Review in December 2022, to celebrate the centenary of the birth of the father of the Bangladesh Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujbue Rahman and the Golden Jubilee of the country’s Independence. In Nigeria, the last PFR was conducted in 2010 in honour of then President Goodluck Jonathan and to mark the 50th anniversary of Nigeria’s independence.
4. Permit me to recall that during the 8-year administration of President Muhammadu Buhari a total of 20 capital ships were procured for the NN. The ships comprise of Offshore Patrol Vessels, Landing Ship Transport, Hydrographic Survey Vessels, Seaward Defence Boats, Helicopters, as well as, over 300 Inshore Patrol Vessels and Assault crafts. The President also commissioned 2 locally built ships in 2016 and 2021, and laid the keel for 2 more, which will be ready by 2024. The NN deems it appropriate to honour the Commander-in-Chief for his support to the Service. The PFR 2023 is therefore organised in honour of President Muhammadu Buhari, in recognition of his generous contribution to the Service and the nation at large. It is also designed to mark the culmination of Mr President’s tenure.
5. This International Press Conference kick-starts the series of activities lined up for the PFR 2023. The next event is the Ice Breaker which is slated for Friday 19 May 2023 from 5pm – 7pm at the Swimming Pool Side Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. The event is to welcome participants to Lagos, especially the foreign invited guests. On
Saturday 20 May 2023, there are 3 activities namely; Maritime Discourse at the Admiralty Conference Centre, Naval Dockyard Limited (NDL), Victoria Island, Lagos from 10am – 2pm; the Beach Fair to be hosted by the Naval Officers’ Wives Association (NOWA) at the Landmark Beach, Victoria Island, Lagos by 12 Noon; and the Cultural Night at the Admiralty Conference Centre, NDL, Victoria Island, Lagos from 7pm – 9pm.
6. The high point of the PFR-2023 will be on Monday 22 May 2023 at the NDL from 9am – 12noon. During the event, Mr President will review the NN Fleet at anchorage along Lagos channel and commission 2 ships (NNS KADA and NNS IBENO) and a recently acquired NN helicopter. There will also be a Guard of Honour for the President, ceremonial sailing Pass Exercise (PASSEX), combat and aerial displays. Other activities lined up for the day include capability demonstration by NN Special Forces, defence/maritime expo exhibition, combined naval parade and exercises. The PFR involves 16 NN warships, 3 x AW109E NN helicopters and a mix of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Aircraft. The participating NN ships are NNS THUNDER, NNS CENTENARY, NNS IKENNE, NNS KADA, NNS LANA, NNS KANO, NNS NGURU, NNS IBENO, NNS ABA, NNS OJI, NNS ANDONI, NNS OSUN, NNS OSE, NNS EKULU, NNS GONGOLA and NNS SHIRORO. The participating NAF aircraft are 1 x MI35 Helicopter, 1 x Diamond-42, 1 x ATR-42 MPA and 3 x A29 Super Tucano. Some foreign warships from allied nations including Spain, Brazil and Ghana are also expected to participate in the exercise. As a way of rounding off, a Gala Night will be hosted in the evening of Monday 22 May 2023 at the NDL, Victoria Island, Lagos.
7. It is gratifying to restate that the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR marks a period of profound transformation of the NN Fleet. The president demonstrated enormous political will in ensuring the recapitalisation of the NN Fleet which has become the pride of the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) and one of the most versatile naval fleet in Africa. It has therefore become expedient to organize the PFR-2023 in celebration of Mr President for his commitment to strengthen the nation’s naval assets and capability to project her instruments of maritime power for national prosperity.
8. At this juncture, permit me to use this opportunity to thank you for your continuous support to the NN. I urge you to as always give adequate publicity to all the events lined up for the PFR-2023. God Bless you and Onward Together.
SS GARBA
Rear AdmiralMay 2023 for Chief of the Naval Staff