French naval shipbuilder, Couach, has partnered Nigeria through a strategic defence partnership with SP Offshore Nigeria Limited / SPO-DICON aimed at boosting maritime security and sovereign defence capability.
This was contained in a statement issued recently by Mina Park-Okoloko, Company Secretary, SP Offshore Nigeria Limited/SPO-DICON.
The partnership is expected to position Nigeria as a future regional hub for advanced naval platforms, maritime security systems and defence industrialisation.
Couach, founded in 1897, specialises in the manufacture of high-speed military interceptors, patrol vessels, unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), combat boats and maritime security systems.
The company operates more than 47,000 square metres of naval manufacturing infrastructure and has delivered over 3,000 vessels across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
Its vessels are currently used by agencies, including the Royal Saudi Navy, Saudi Border Guards, Royal Oman Police Coast Guard and French Customs.
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According to the statement, Couach has delivered 79 high-speed interceptor vessels to the Saudi Border Guards, 12 fast patrol vessels to the Royal Saudi Navy and 22 interceptor boats to the Royal Oman Police Coast Guard.
The statement said the partnership will support local naval manufacturing and assembly, maritime security vessel programmes, naval training, fleet maintenance infrastructure and technical skills development.
It added that the collaboration would also strengthen long-term maritime defence industrialisation and create regional support opportunities across West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea.
Under the leadership of Obafemi Adekunle, SPO-DICON is pursuing industrial cooperation in the maritime, aerospace and strategic security sectors.
The organisation is also developing local capability programmes, including the JB-0330 MALE unmanned aerial platform initiative and ammunition manufacturing infrastructure projects.
The statement further said the partnership would support the integration of autonomous naval drones, coastal surveillance systems, hybrid propulsion technologies and combat management systems.
It added that the collaboration would stimulate technical employment, composite engineering expertise, local supply-chain development, maritime technical training and long-term naval maintenance capability in Nigeria.
Couach currently maintains global support and maintenance infrastructure, including operations supporting Gulf fleets and maritime operators
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