The
First Lady, Dame Patience Faka Jonathan on Monday in Wuhan, China inaugurated the
first purpose-built Nigerian Navy Offshore Patrol Vessel christened NN OPV-F91
She
also performed the Hull formation of the second Vessel- OPV-F92 being built by
the China Shipbuilding and Offshore International Limited.
Dame
Patience Jonathan at the event noted that the two-in-one ceremony bears
testimony to the commitment and resolve of President Goodluck Jonathan administration
to establish a strong and virile Navy capable of protecting Nigeria’s maritime
territories.
She
explained that the President has shown great commitment to the rapid
transformation of Nigeria; particularly with the approval for the recapitalization
of the Nigerian Navy Fleet to enable it address various maritime security
challenges
The
First lady emphasized that effective maritime security is vital to the realization
of the Transformation Agenda of the present administration in Nigeria, in view
of the fact that the country places significant value on the economic benefits
of its coastal and marine areas.
Dame
Jonathan expressed delight that the fitting-out of the second vessel will be
completed at the Nigerian Naval Shipyard in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, appealing
to the officers and men of the Nigerian Navy to continue in their tradition of
professionalism, integrity and loyalty.
The
Chief of the Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin was represented at the
event by Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogbor who praised President Goodluck Jonathan
for his commitment to entrench a robust and combat ready Navy.
He
thereafter joined the First lady and Senior officials of China Shipbuilding and
Offshore Company to cut the ribbon and break the traditional bottle of
champagne for the ship launch.
The
hull formation of the first Vessel was done in September last year.
It
will be recalled that the First Lady launched one of Nigerian Naval Ship-
“THUNDER” about two years ago at the western Naval Command in Lagos.
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