NAN – The Nigerian Navy on Friday took delivery of a new warship named ‘NNS OKPABANA’ from the United States in order to tackle maritime-related challenges.
While receiving the vessel in Lagos, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Usman Jibrin, said that the addition of the vessel would boost the navy’s war against maritime crimes, the News Agency of Nigeria reported.
Jibrin said that the new warship was the second of the Hamilton class of cutters to join the NN fleet recently.
He said, “It is worthy of note to state that the successes recorded by NNS THUNDER in curtailing threats in our maritime domain and the larger Gulf of Guinea region, with the confidence reposed in our country by the USA that made it possible to acquire NNS OKPABANA.
“The addition of this ship into the NN fleet will certainly bolster our zeal to end the menace in our maritime domain and the region, as well as support the regional and global effort to eliminate transnational maritime threats.”
On the donation, the US Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwinstle, said that both countries were interested in a peaceful, well-policed Gulf of Guinea, while adding that the US support had significantly increased Nigeria’s ability to reach the shared goal.
Represented by the US Consul General, Entwinstle said that most of Nigeria’s security problems come from the sea.
He said, “Many of the regions’ security challenges come from the sea, and this powerful new naval platform will enhance Nigeria’s ability to control the maritime environment.
“OKPABANA is the first Nigerian vessel to have a Regional Maritime Awareness Capability (R-Mack) system on board.
“This system will link back to the NN wider R-Mack network and expand NN’s ability to track and identify vessels throughout the Gulf of Guinea.”
Designed as a high endurance cutter, the warship, OKPABANA, has a crossing range of 9,600 nautical miles, which is translated at 17,800km at 20 knots.
The ship also has an 80-foot flight deck that is capable of handling helicopters which makes her an ideal platform for extended patrol mission, as well as a crew capacity of 170 personnel.
