It was revealed that, the Nigerian Navy has acquired two high-endurance offshore patrol vessels from Dearsan Shipyard, Turkey, to boost maritime security.

Emmanuel Ogalla, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral, said this in Calabar while delivering a lecture at the Naval Warfare Course 8 on Wednesday.

The CNS, in the lecture titled ‘Vision and Mission for the Nigerian Navy’, stated that the vessels were acquired as part of his fleet renewal mission for the navy.

“The objective of the fleet renewal policy is to develop a system capable of sustaining effective and round-the-clock presence in the exclusive economic zones,” he said.

Emmanuel stressed that the naval shipyard was also constructing 20 houseboats for operations in the brown water.

“All these are being done in defence of Nigeria’s maritime interests. We have categorised the fleet renewal under short, medium, and long-term plans. We have acquired three combat helicopters for the air arm and strategic military drones for the Nigerian Navy arm,” he disclosed.

He added that the navy had received two AW109SP helicopters in February, saying, “Several other platforms such as two 38m fast patrol craft and another 409m fast patrol boats under construction are expected soon.”

Ogalla noted that three 46m fast patrol boats would be produced in China by April and expected in the country before the third quarter of the year.

He also declared that the long-term plan included taking delivery of the high endurance offshore patrol of 76m and the 20 houseboats under construction by the Naval Shipyard Limited.

Ogalla revealed that the curriculum of the Navy War College would be improved to make it more sustainable for contemporary and evolving dynamics in the maritime environment.

It was gathered that, Naval Warfare Course 8 have 24 participants, which includes 17 naval officers and two officers each from the air force and army.

The three other officers were from Cameroon, Ghana and Guinea Bissau.