Nigeria and Niger Delta

Navy takes delivery of new weapons …As Adekeye is pulled out
Posted To The Web: Thursday, October 09, 2008 - By PHILIP NWOSU www.onlinenigeria.com

The Nigerian Navy said it has commenced taking delivery of arms and ammunition from a foreign firm to enable it meet up its security challenges, particularly in the Niger Delta. The procurement of the arms and ammunition, according to the Navy, commenced in 2006 after discussions were concluded and agreements sealed with a Singapore company, Messrs Singapore Technologies Kinetic Limited.The revelation was made at the pulling out parade of retiring Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ganiyu Adekeye, but details of the type of arms and ammunition were not given.Admiral Adekeye had, during his farewell address, told officers and men of the force that after three years in the saddle as head of the Navy, the fleet of the force has gradually returned to life.At the moment, he said, the force can boast of two to three ships constantly patrolling the country’s territorial waters.“We can also flaunt our successful conduct of three chief of the naval staff annual sea inspections with large number of ships, boats and naval helicopters even for as long as a week.“We can recall the successful participation of NNS Aradu and NNS Nwamba in the Brazilian Navy’s Bi-Centenary celebrations in honour of Admiral Joaquim Marques de Lisboa, the patron of the Brazilian Navy,” he noted.The outgone chief of naval staff said time has come for the Nigerian Navy to join the league of developing nations such as Brazil, Indonesia and Pakistan, by locally constructing its own combat vessels.While challenging naval engineers and architects on the achievement of this feat, Admiral Adekeye said the construction of a 31-metre Seaward Defence Boat by the naval dockyard has put the force’s engineer in a position to prove to the world that the local construction of war ship is achievable.He said: “Under my watch, the Nigerian Navy was able to acquire some small and medium calibre weapons to boost its operatives. We also made tremendous progress in our Niger Delta operations and personnel welfare.”Admiral Adekeye was seen off by the service chiefs, with the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Paul Dike, leading.Two retired chief of naval staff, including Vice Admiral Akin Aduwo and Vice Admiral Jubril Ayinla were on hand to receive him into retirement.