Buhari meets naval chief over maritime security

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met with the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas over the maritime security situation in the county.

Emerging from the closed door meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, and Ibas told State House correspondents that the maritime security situation has remained stable.

He said the meeting with the president was routine and enabled him to give an update on where naval operations take place.

He said: “It is a routine that we brief the Commander-in-Chief from time to time. This was a Special brief to update him on the state of security situation in the maritime environment where my operation takes place.

“We are glad that the security situation in the maritime environment has remained favourable to allow legitimate economic activities to take place.

“I also hinted him on the ongoing exercise that the Navy is conducting with other partners within the region and other international partners.  It is aimed at building capacity and intelligence sharing.

“The Nigeria’s new maritime strategy sees our activities going just beyond maritime environment. We have been part of the various joint task forces including the Lafiya Dole.”

He recalled that the President Buhari had already approved the establishment of an operational base for the Navy in the Lake Chad area basically to help provide security there.

According to him, Lake Chad is a strategic location that provides the transportation means for four nations.

He said The Nigeria Navy’s presence there is to help in consolidating on the security of gnat area and facilitate economic activities to pick up.

He added that the presence of the Navy there will help to hasten the development efforts of the community.

On piracy, he said the assertion about the Gulf of Guinea being the most notorious water in this part of the world has been taken seriously.

He added: “In the last one year, we have in place a dedicated task force there to address this challenge.

“The good news is that we have been there wherever they are and we have been able to challenge them. Incidences have reduced drastically and we intend to continue to dominate these areas. A lot is being done by the Navy to contain the menace of pirates.

“The President said we should continue to do that which will enable our country to prosper.”