The Nigerian Navy has concluded its three-day Annual Sea Inspection on Monday.
During the exercise which began on Friday, the Visit Boarding Search and Seizure operations were carried out, showcasing the Navy’s dedication to bolstering security and enforcing maritime regulations.
Sharing images of the exercise on its X account on Monday, the Navy said, “The Chief of Naval Staff Annual Sea Inspection (Exercise NCHEKWA OSHIMIRI) was conducted at the sea from 24 to 27 November 2023.
“The exercise included Visit Boarding Search and Seizure Communication Exercise (Ship-Ship, Ship-Air, Ship-Shore) Patrols Offshore Assets Protection Air and Surface Surveillance”.
The Nigerian Navy had on Friday commenced the sea inspection with the Minister of State for Defence, Alhaji Bello Matawalle, flagging off the exercise on board the Nigerian Navy Ship Kada in Onne, Rivers State.
The minister charged the officers and men of the Nigerian Navy to keep up the good work in ensuring that the nation was secured for thriving economic activities.
As Matawalle said, the efforts of the Navy and its various operations to safeguard the maritime environment had led to a drastic reduction in crimes in the waterways, improved economic activities, and contributed to rising crude oil production.
Matawalle said the efforts put in by the Navy to organise the exercise were aimed at ridding the nation’s maritime environment of crimes in all their ramifications, which is impressive.
“Pertinently, this exercise and other Nigerian Navy engagements would not have been possible without the support of the president.
“The operational activities of the Nigerian Navy within the last three months under the leadership of the Chief of Naval Staff have received varying degrees of success.
“I am aware of other operations and robust efforts through patrols and surveillance that the Navy is carrying out to ensure a safe and secure maritime environment for economic prosperity and national development”, he said.
Continuing, he noted, “These activities have led to the drastic reduction of maritime crimes, leading to improved economic activities”.
