Connect with us

Latest News

Nigerian Navy Signs Contract For Two New Warships

Published

on

Nigerian Navy Signs Contract For Two New Warships

By

Omonon Jeremiah

The Nigerian Navy has signed a contract with a Turkish company, Messrs Dearsan Shipyard Limited for the purchase of two brand new offshore patrol vessels. The vessels are expected to be completed within 37 months.

Reacting to the development, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo said that the Nigerian Navy had in the last couple of months brought to bear her dominant status both in the West African sub-region and Nigeria by sustaining an aggressive presence in the nation’s maritime environment, leading to drastic reduction in acts of criminality.

According to him, the development has been acknowledged by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) in its Global Piracy Report of July 14, 2021, indicating the lowest number of piracy and armed attacks against ships in 27 years.

The CNS explained that the report was corroborated by the Defence Web Maritime Security Report of October 15, 2021, which noted further decline in reported cases of piracy and armed attacks against shipping in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG), a development he attributed to the impact of Nigerian Navy maritime security operation efforts.

Expressing gratitude to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari for his continued support and goodwill towards the Nigerian Navy, Admiral Gambo stated that the contract signing ceremony was another milestone achievement by the Nigerian Navy in her fleet renewal effort towards realising her 2021-2030 Strategic Plan.

READ ALSO: USS Hershel “Woody” Williams Arrives In Nigeria For Maritime Security Engagement

The CNS also recalled that on the directive of the President, the Nigerian Navy hosted Ghana’s Chief of Navy Staff, where collaborative efforts were discussed on how to combat piracy and other maritime crimes in the GoG.

During the meeting, it was agreed that there was a need to establish a standing ECOWAS Multinational Task Force in the GoG. To sustain the upward trajectory of the Nigerian Navy’s operational engagements and actively participate in the proposed Task Force the CNS disclosed that the president granted approval to the NN to procure two high endurance offshore patrol vessels with the capability to carry out maritime interdiction operations, surveillance and special forces operations as well as provide naval fire support to land forces.

“The OPVs will also be capable of conducting search and rescue operations, anti-piracy, anti-smuggling and anti-drug trafficking operations and disaster relief operations among others,” Admiral Gambo said.

Nigerian Navy Signs Contract For Two New Warships

He further revealed that the process of selecting a shipyard capable of constructing the OPVs began in earnest and Dearsan Shipyard Limited was selected based on its track record and the conviction that it would be able to construct a platform that could be deployed as an OPV in peacetime, while having the capability and flexibility to be quickly outfitted with sensors and weapons to re-role the platform for warfare and maritime defence purposes, at a cost effective price.

“Today was a remarkable day as it marked the consummation of relationship between the NN and Messrs Dearsan which is hoped would lead to more fruitful engagements between Nigeria and Turkey in the future,” the CNS stated.

Responding, the Chief Executive Officer of Messrs Dearsan Shipyard, Murat Gordi commended the Federal Government and the Nigerian Navy for the confidence placed on their company to construct the OPV.

He assured that the company would reciprocate by building the best in-class vessel for the NN and ensure the contract is faithfully executed to deliver true value for money.

READ ALSO: U.S. Army Special Forces Conclude Training With Nigeria Navy Special Boat Service

Gordi added that the project would further strengthen ties between Nigeria and Turkey through the provision of added value in technological transfer and expertise.

The event was graced by principal staff officers of the Naval Headquarters and representatives from Messrs Dearsan Shipyard Limited.

 

Read more authentic news on our social media platforms

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Latest News

BREAKING: PDP Chairman Beaten To Coma Dies

Published

on

Peter Nweke

Peter Nweke, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman in Ezza North local government area, beaten to coma, is dead.

Nweke died from injuries he sustained from attacks by hoodlums suspected to be political thugs on Saturday during the Governorship and Assembly elections.

Police spokesperson, Onome Onovwakpoyeya confirmed the death of Nweke on Sunday.

She said Nweke was beaten up and rushed to the hospital unconscious where he was later pronounced dead by a doctor.

The police officer said the police had launched an investigation into the death with a view to arresting and prosecuting anyone responsible.

Nweke’s younger brother, Samson Nweke also confirmed the death.

Continue Reading

Latest News

BREAKING:Court Orders INEC to Paste, Transmit Results Electronically

Published

on

INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu

Hours before the Saturday’s governorship and state House of Assembly elections, a Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to electronically transmit the results of the polls in accordance with its regulations and guidelines.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu, in a judgment, also ordered the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) to upload a scanned copy of the EC8A to INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) immediately after the completion of all the polling units voting and results’ procedures in Akwa Ibom.

The judge further directed the commission to conspicuously paste the publication of its result posters EC60(E) at polling units after completing the EC8A result sheets in the state.

He equally ordered INEC to enforce the observance and compliance of Section 27(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022 in the distribution of electoral materials during the conduct of the polls in the state by engaging the services of independent, competent, and reliable logistic companies who are non-partisans or known supporters of any political for the distribution of electoral materials and personnel.

Egwuatu held that since the electoral umpire averred in its filed affidavit that it was aware of its responsibilities under the law and had not failed to carry them out, granting the prayers sought by the applicants would not do any harm to the commission but instead, energise its performance.

He gave the judgment following a suit filed by the Labour Party (LP) and its governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom, Uduakobong Udoh, including 13 state’s House of Assembly candidates for the March 18 elections.

Recall that the applicants, in the originating summons marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/334/2023 dated and filed on March 15 by their lawyer, Moses Usoh-Abia, had sued INEC as sole defendant.

The applicants, who sought seven reliefs, prayed the court for an order of mandamus compelling INEC and all its agents to comply with and enforce the provision of Clause 37 of the Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of the Saturday’s governorship and house of assembly elections in Akwa Ibom.

They also prayed the court to mandate the presiding officers of all polling units to conspicuously paste the publication of result posters EC460(E) at the polling units after completing the EC8A result sheets.

They sought an order of mandamus compelling the commission to mandate the presiding officers of all polling units in the state to electronically transmit or transfer the result of the polling units, direct to the collation system and use the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) to upload a scanned copy of the EC8A to INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) immediately after the completion of all the polling units voting and results procedures.

They said this was in compliance with the provision of Clause 38 of the guidelines for the conduct of the polls.
The applicants equally prayed for an order directing INEC to enforce the observance and compliance of Section 27(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022 in the distribution of electoral materials during the conduct of the polls by engaging the services of independent, competent, and reliable logistic companies who are non-partisans or known supporters of any political for the distribution of electoral materials and personnel, among other reliefs.

Justice Egwuatu had, on Wednesday, granted leave to the applicants to proceed with a judicial review, filed requisite motion and put INEC on notice, following an ex-parte motion moved by Usoh-Abia.

Upon resumed hearing on the matter on Friday, Usoh-Abia said that he had complied with the earlier court order and that their motion was served on INEC on Wednesday.

The lawyer said despite the service of their process, the commission was not represented in court.

The judge, however, said that he noticed INEC:s counter affidavit and a preliminary objection to their originating summons in the court file.

He said the application was filed on Thursday.
Responding, Usoh-Abia said though they were yet to be served by the commission, he was ready to proceed with the matter due to the urgency of the case.
He said the motion, dated March 15, had 26-paragrph affidavit with nine exhibits.
The lawyer urged the court to direct the electoral umpire to comply with its regulations and guidelines of Clauses 37 and 38 on the conduct of the elections.

He said the order was necessary because the commission, in the Feb. 25 Presidential and National Assembly polls, failed to transmit results of the elections in the state and across the country.

He argued that INEC created the regulations and guidelines pursuant to Section 148 and 60(5) of the Electoral Act, 2022 to guide the conduct of elections and collating of election result among others.

Usoh-Abia said INEC’s refusal to comply with the law had resulted in serious prejudice; and had foisted uncertainty and frustration on his clients at their various polling units and wards.
The lawyer said if the order was not granted, the same scenario would repeat itself in the Saturday’s poll.

But INEC, in its preliminary objection, said the suit was incompetent and the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain it.

The commission argued that the applicants had not established a justifiable action against it.

It also said that the applicants acted in contravention of the practice direction by commencing the suit via originating summons.
Delivering judgment, Justice Egwuatu said he was satisfied that the applicants had complied with the practice direction rules in the filing of their application.

He also said that he was satisfied that a cause of action had been established against INEC in the paragraphs of the applicants’ process.

The judge, therefore, ordered INEC to direct all its presiding officers to comply with Clauses 37 and 38 of its regulations and guidelines for the conduct of tomorrow’s election in Akwa Ibom.

He held that the commission had the legal duty to act in accordance with the law.

The judge, however, refused to grant other reliefs.

Continue Reading

Latest News

Govt Postpones 2023 Census

Published

on

Emefiele Sick, Can't Meet With Reps - CBN
President Buhari

The 2023 population and housing census earlier scheduled for 29 March has been shifted to May.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed when he briefed State House correspondents at the end of the meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday in Abuja.

Mohammed said that the decision to shift the census was necessitated by the postponement of the gubernatorial and state assembly elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from 11 March to 18 March.

He also disclosed that the council approved N2.8 billion for the National Population Commission (NPC) to procure some software to be used for the conduct of the census.

“There was a memo presented by the National Population Commission, seeking some software to allow them to conduct the census in May this year.

”I believe because of the rescheduling of the elections, they cannot commence the census as scheduled.

“They sought council’s approval for a contract to procure software for the census at the sum of N2.8 billion,” he said.

Continue Reading

Top Stories

%d bloggers like this: