New Navy Vessels’ll Boost Maritime Security, Economy, Says First Lady

The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has described the acquisition of two new high-endurance offshore patrol vessels for the Nigerian Navy as a show of the President Bola Tinubu administration’s commitment to the safety of Nigeria’s maritime environment.

According to a statement issued by her spokesperson, Busola Kukoyi, First Lady Tinubu who spoke at the launch ceremony in Turkey, said the vessels will significantly boost maritime security and drive economic prosperity through the blue economy.

The two newly launched 76-meter vessels, built by Turkish shipyard Dearsan, are expected to bolster the Navy’s capability to combat piracy, oil theft, illegal fishing and other maritime crimes in Nigeria’s offshore waters.

With their extended endurance and deployment range, the patrol ships will also aid in enforcing regulatory compliance and surveillance over Nigeria’s economic exclusion zone and the Gulf of Guinea.

The Offshore Patrol vessels are both 76.90 meters in length, a beam of 11.90m and can accommodate 47 crew members.

The First Lady commended Dearsan for its “high-quality shipbuilding capability” and expressed optimism that the launch marked the start of greater cooperation between Nigeria and Turkey in areas of defense and economic development.

She said: “The acquisition of the High Endurance Offshore Patrol Vessels is another feat in the Tinubu administration’s commitment to Nigerian Navy’s Fleet renewed efforts towards a more secured maritime environment for Nigeria’s economic prosperity.”