President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday said that piracy reduced significantly over the last seven years, culminating in delisting Nigeria from the list of piracy-prone countries.
The President said this at the 2023 Presidential Fleet Review in Lagos, held in his honour by the Nigerian Navy, with the theme “Fleet Readiness for National Prosperity”.
He said the International Maritime Bureau in March 2022 delisted Nigeria from the list of piracy prone countries.
“Furthermore, application of technology to secure the maritime domain has supported intelligence-driven deployment of ships.
“I will particularly commend the diligent arraignment and prosecution of MT HEROIC IDUN, sequel to the detection and arrest, for attempting to load crude oil, offshore Bonny in August 2022 without authorisation, just to cite one example.”
According to Mr Buhari, this successful conviction further confirms the Nigerian Navy’s resolve to protect resources belonging to our country.
The President said the Nigerian Navy achieved these feat due to collaborations with navies from partner nations.
He said it boosted synergy in addressing illegalities within the Gulf of Guinea.
“They had joint exercises such as Exercise OBANGAME EXPRESS, Exercise GRAND AFRICA NEMO and Exercise FLINTLOCK to mention a few.
“These exercises have enhanced the Navy’s readiness for Maritime security operations,” he said.
He, however, commended the heads of navies and coast guards as well as foreign allies for the useful cooperation.
The President also expressed appreciation for the donations and mutual military cooperation with ship building partner nations.
He said the cooperation had encouraged local shipbuilding by the Nigerian Navy.
“The Navy’s efforts in indigenous shipbuilding, in line with the nation’s local content development plan is yielding positive result.
“Our naval engineers were wholly responsible for building three Seaward Defence Boats, NNS ANDONI, NNS KARADUWA and NNS OJI.
“In December 2021, I performed keel laying foundation for the construction of two Seaward Defence Boats, which will be ready by 2024.
“I have no doubt that our Navy will soon commence construction of larger ships for itself and other navies in the region and beyond.
“This achievement is a great pride to Nigeria and an impressive contribution to national development.”
He also acknowledged the cooperation of the Lagos State Government, emphasising the role of the state and stakeholders in the economy of the nation.
“Let me also compliment the government and people of Lagos State and other maritime stakeholders for the critical support given to the country’s Navy in conducting this Fleet Review.
“Pertinently, more than half of our maritime trade pass through ports located in Lagos and as such continues to be a lifeline for the nation’s industry and economy.
“This strategic importance further underscores the necessity of cordial working relations,” Mr Buhari said.
He also commended the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Awwal Gambo, and the entire Navy personnel for the splendid conduct of the “historic event”.
The CMD appreciated “Hospitals For Humanity“, an international non-governmental organisation, for collaborating with the hospital in carrying out the surgeries.
He also praised the combined efforts of paediatric surgeons, nurses and other health specialists in the health centre for the success achieved so far.
“This is the second phase of the project. We started the first phase on April 28. The team that did the first set of surgeries came from Saudi Arabia. They were volunteers, they did theirs and left.
“Now we have a second set of team from the US and India. So far, in this second phase we have done five surgeries. In the first phase we did nine surgeries. We hope to do more before the project is concluded on May 26,” he said.
Mr Adamu explained that the ailments suffered by the patients included various anomalies within the heart, as well as both simple and complex cases.
He listed the diseases to include ventricular septal defect, double chamber right ventricle and a patient who had a device placed somewhere in his body but moved to his heart.
Adamu said that the medical centre planned to collaborate with the state government and well-meaning Nigerians to fund the project.
He also said that there were plans by the health centre to develop capacity through periodical heart surgeries thereby affording the surgeons the opportunity to perfect the skills learnt from foreign partners for the benefit of Nigerians.
Meanwhile, Dr Myna Shegos, Executive Director, Hospitals for Humanity, Geogia, US disclosed that the organisation had been in Nigeria since 2021.
Ms Shegos explained that the organisation had been operating in the Garki General Hospital, Abuja; Jos University Teaching Hospital, JUTH, Plateau; Ibom Specialist Hospital and University of Uyo Teaching Hospital; Akwa Ibom State.
She said that the organisation was focused on providing free pediatric open heart surgeries and cardiac catheterisation for children.
NAN
