Navy Highlights Achievements In 2019

The Nigerian Navy has given a scorecard of its achievements in 2019.

In a detailed document issued by T. Dick for the Chief of Naval Staff and sent to THE WHISTLER, the navy disclosed that the country has a coastline of about 420nm and 200nm Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which translate to about 84,000 square nautical miles.

Part of the document reads: “The NN 2019 Scorecard highlighted the threats to legitimate activities in the nation’s maritime environment as well as the efforts of the NN in combating them. Thus, the NN remained committed towards improving security in the nation’s maritime area with notable achievements recorded so far. While noting the nexus between the successes and the availability of adequate resources, including international and regional collaboration, there are still some outstanding issues and capability gaps affecting NN operations.

“Interestingly the federal government under the leadership of President Muhammed Buhari has acquired some platforms for the NN while some are being expected by the end of 2020 to boast her maritime security operations.”

SCORECARD OF THE NAVY IN 2019 FOR VARIOUS OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES

Choke Point Management and Control Regime: The Choke Point management and Control Regime has been instrumental to some of the successes recorded by the NN in 2019. For instance, a total of 70 large wooden boats were arrested for involvement in illegalities in 2019 and 463 large wooden boats were destroyed within the same period. In contrast, 31 large wooden boats were arrested in 2018 while 176 large wooden boats were destroyed within the same period. The increase in the number of wooden boats arrested in 2019 when compared to the records for 2018 is attributable to amongst other things, the improved efficiency of NSS. This is reflective in the improved production capacity as alluded to by the NNPC and IOCs, due to reduced down time associated with breaching of pipelines.

Operation RIVER SWEEP: The Operation involves air surveillance, insertion of Special Forces by gunboats, pulling down of identified Illegal Refining Sites (IRS) with the use of swamp buggies as well as arrest/destruction of boats and barges found in such locations. In 2019, a total of 378 IRS were destroyed by the Operation resulting in the arrest of 62 speed boats and 275 suspects for involvement in either COT/illegal bunkering or smuggling of petroleum products. In contrast, 637 IRS were destroyed in 2018, with 104 speed boats and 340 suspects arrested. The observed reduction in the number of sites and arrests is attributable to the introduction of swamp buggy operations to completely destroy identified illegal refineries, thus making reactivation more difficult.

Operations TSARE TEKU AND CALM WATERS. Op TSARE: These are dedicated naval operations activated in 2016 and 2019 respectively with the mandate to combat attacks on shipping and other illegal activities in designated areas. Op CALM WATERS focuses on backwater operations while TSARE TEKU is concerned with operations beyond the coastline. These operations are partly responsible for the reduction in reported incidents of sea robbery and piracy within Nigerian waters. According to records, from January to 16 December 2019, a total of 16 pirate attacks were reported with 6 successful and 10 unsuccessful. This is an improvement in comparison to the records for 2018 where a total of 34 pirate attacks were reported with 9 successful and 25 unsuccessful. To rid Nigerian waters of the threats posed by pirates as well as the attendant economic implications, the NN will continue to sustain and improve on current efforts in Op TSARE TEKU and CALM WATERS.

Operation SWIFT RESPONSE: The operation has resulted in several arrests and seizures as shown on the screen. Specifically, the Ops resulted in the confiscation of about 10 trucks of 33,000 ltrs of petroleum products (valued at over N80 million) and seizure of about 14,056 bags of rice worth over N210 million from Aug 19 to date. To this end, the NN has contributed immensely to addressing menace of smuggling and other economic crimes within the country’s maritime environment.

Enhancement of Response Capability: The response capability of the NN is also being enhanced through the acquisition of more platforms and maintenance of existing platforms to guarantee their availability. This is reflective in the total number of hours spent on patrol by NN ships in comparison to previous years. For instance, NN ships spent a total of 22,262 hours on patrol from Jan to 16 Dec 19 in comparison to 20,014 hours spent on patrol in the entire 2018.

Notwithstanding, the NN still intend to increase operational capability by acquiring more vessels in order to enable it respond more effectively to contemporary and future threats. It is however essential to note that in spite of the FGN’s intervention in support of the various NN operational engagements across the country, the current level of funding for the NN is still far below what is required to sustain a balanced force capable of discharging its roles effectively.

Collaboration with Other Maritime Nations and Stakeholders: The NN holds regular international conferences and sea exercises with navies of other nations and major maritime stakeholders for the purpose of capacity building, intelligence and information sharing. These consultations have deepened stakeholders’ understanding of emerging security situations and the need to enhance collaboration. In 2019, the NN participated actively in EX OBANGAME EXPRESS, EX GRAND AFRICAN NEMO and Op JUNCTION RAIN. These exercises and Op which were aimed at fostering international/regional cooperation and synergy of efforts in tackling the myriad of challenges in Nigerian maritime environment were partly responsible for the foreign warships that visited Nigeria in 2019. The NN also had regular interactions with other maritime stakeholders, particularly maritime law enforcement agencies under the auspices of the Harmonized Standard Operating Procedure on Arrest, Detention and Prosecution of Vessels and Persons (HSOP– AD & P) in Nigeria’s Maritime Environment.

PLATFORMS EXPECTED BEFORE END OF 2020               

In 2019 the NN acquired some platform to boost her maritime security operations amongst which are 20 x Riverine Patrol Boats, 20 x Rigid Hull

Inflatable Boats (RHIBs) and 2 x 25 Man House Boats. The NN is also expecting some platforms from various manufacturers both within and outside the country to join her fleet to further boast her maritime security operations. The Platforms expected to join before the end of 2020 includes: (a) 1 x 60m Hydrographic Survey Ship from Ocea France. (b) 2 x 40m FPBs from Damen Shipyard Vietnam (c) 1 x 43m SDB III from Naval Dockyard Limited Lagos (d) 2 x 35m FPBs from Ocea France (e) 1 x 24m FPB from Ocea France (f) 4 x Manta Class Boats from Suncraft Malaysia (g) 4 x 17C –Falcon Boats from Ocea France (h) 5 x RHIBs enroute from Suncraft Malaysia (j) 15 x RHIBs from Suncraft Malaysia (k) 15 x 8.5m Riverine Patrol Boats from Epenal Group Nigeria Limited, Port Harcourt (l) 9 x 8.5m Riverine Patrol Boats from SEWA, Port Harcourt (m) 1 x 25man house boat from Epenal Group Nigeria Limited, Port Harcourt (n) 1 x Leonardo Helicopter AW139 (Helicopter) from Italy.