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From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The Nigerian Navy said it has established a Special Operations Command in Makurdi, to complement the efforts of sister services fighting insecurity in the Middle Belt region.
The Chief of Policy and Plans,Rear Admiral Ibrahim Dewu, made this known at a news briefing on the activities lined to commemorate the 69th Anniversary Celebrations of the Nigerian Navy in Abuja.
Dewu, said that the establishment of the command was in line with navy’s Total Spectrum Maritime Strategy, which delineates its areas of operations from Back Waters through the Exclusive Economic Zone, up to the Out of Area and Land Based Operations.
According to him, the command would be situated on the North Bank of the River Benue.
The command comprises of various special operations personnel, like the Navy Marines, Special Boat Service (SBS) and the Blue Sea Operations.
“Now, what we need in the Nigerian Navy Marines is that the current situation has brought us to operate with our sister services on land.
“The Nigerian Navy, as it is, will need to have trained personnel that will operate side by side with the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Air Force.
“That is why we needed to get special ratings of personnel, or the Navy Marines, which we intend to establish in Makurdi that will be operating not just at sea, but to operate in other terrains, which is the land,’’ he said.
While noting that the navy had taken delivery of three new patrol vessels and three newly acquired helicopters in support of all its maritime security operations, Dewu, said the new platforms would be inducted next week.
He listed the new patrol vessels to include: NNS SHERE, NNS FARO and NNS IKOGOSI. All three vessels are about 38 meters long with an endurance of five days.
“Two of the vessels were acquired from Singapore and one from South Korea and they will arrived Nigeria in December 2024.
“These vessels will serve as Seaward Defence boats within Nigeria’s littorals up to the 24 nautical mile contiguous zone and when necessary, go beyond in hot pursuit as necessary.
“Essentially, they will improve our presence at sea.Additionally, three more Agusta Westland 109 Trekker helicopters will be commissioned, bringing the total number of helicopters in the Nigerian Navy inventory to 14, thus improving our air operations exponentially.”
