The Eastern Naval Command, ENC, of the Nigerian Navy in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, on Friday, took delivery of a new warship christened the NNS Centenary.
The Chief of Naval Staff, CNS, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, who was on ground to receive it at the NNS Victory jetty, noted that the ship, as the newest in the navy’s fleet, would further
reinforce the presence of the navy in the eastern flank of the country’s maritime domain.
He disclosed that NNS Centenary was acquired to patrol the maritime domain of the Eastern Naval Command in order to keep the water safe from oil thieves and sea pirates.
“When we talk about maritime security, you have to know that it goes with development.
“Maritime security has a nexus with development. Nobody wants to do business in an insecure environment.
“The bulk of resources that bring development come from the sea; the essence of the new ship is to reinforce our presence in the Eastern flank of the nation’s maritime space,” he said.
Noting that the ship has the capacity to carry helicopters and other vital instruments, the chief of naval staff also pointed out that “it is capable of staying at sea for two weeks. It is no longer going to be business as usual for the bad guys at sea.
“Those doing their businesses at sea would have confidence to go about their business at ease,’’ he said.
He warned criminals operating on the nation’s waterways to stay off, adding that the navy was not friendly to such categories of persons.