Navy takes delivery of 50 gunboats, drones for maritime operations

The Nigerian Navy on Wednesday received 50 assault gunboats and drones to tackle crime and criminality in the nation’s territorial waters.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the platforms and equipment donated by Aiteo Global Group are 21 gunboats, 14 operational patrol boats, seven house boats and four airboats.

Others are four high-speed interception inshore patrol boats, long-range surveillance drones and six high definition cameras.

Receiving the items in Port Harcourt, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice AdmiralAwwal Gambo, said the hardwares would be deployed to the creeks to fight oil theft, piracy and sea robbery.

According to him, the donation is the manifestation of months of collaboration with critical maritime stakeholders to support naval operations.

“The delivery of these platforms and assets aligns with the provisions of the Nigerian Navy 2021-2030 strategic plans on inter-agency and sub-regional cooperation.

“This is a milestone in our collaborative engagement with corporate maritime stakeholders to rid the nation’s maritime environment of criminal elements and economic saboteurs.”