The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, flagged off the Nigerian Navy (NN) annual Sea Inspection with the simultaneous deployment of 15 warships and 3 helicopters. The Flag Off ceremony took place onboard Nigerian Naval Ship KADA in Port Harcourt.
The CNS Sea Inspection is an annual exercise where the NN deploys most of her men o’ war and air assets in readiness for combat. This year, the Annual Sea Inspection is nicknamed Exercise DEIN ABAJI which translates to “Calm Waters” in Kalabari dialect. The Sea Exercise will showcase the NN’s ability to protect the maritime environment for national economic prosperity.
In his remarks, the CNS stated that this year’s exercise is particularly relevant considering the Government’s desire to develop the nation’s blue economy. It is therefore imperative that the NN builds capacity to secure its maritime environment which also extends to the Gulf of Guinea.
The CNS also underscored how the NN maritime security operations have led to significant improvement in legitimate shipping activities and rise in Nigeria’s oil production as several multinational oil companies have reported 100 per cent terminal factor. Finally the CNS expressed profound appreciation to the President, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, for his unflinching support to the NN in the fulfilment of its constitutional roles.
The 15 ships that cast off for Exercise DEIN ABAJI are:
1. NNS KADA
2. DB ABUJA
3. NNS IBENO
4. NNS KANO
5. NNS SOKOTO
6. NNS OJI
7. NNS ANDONI
8. NNS CHALAWA
9. NNS BURUTU
10. NNS ZUR
11. NNS DORINA
12. NNS ABA
13. NNS BOMADI
14. NNS EKULU
15. NNS IKENNE