ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE, Yenagoa
The Nigerian Navy has kicked off 2021 ‘Exercise Cold Waters’ to
intensify efforts to tackle maritime insecurity, especially crude oil theft and piracy within the Central Naval Command (CNC) area of operations.
The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), the Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Saidu Garba, said the overall objective was to work towards fulfilling the Chief of Naval Staff’s mandate of securing the nation’s maritime domains.
He said the operation is predicated on the most prevalent maritime threats occurring within the CNC area of operations and it was expected to ensure that the Navy sustain its presence at sea, within the creeks and on land.
He said part of the exercise would enable Naval personnel to conduct mobile patrols operation to check the activities of criminals involved in piracy/ kidnapping, sea robbery and illegal oil bunkering.
He said: “We intend to leverage sustained coverage of NN maritime domain awareness (MDA) platforms domiciled within the CNC AOR to continue to extend our reach. It has recently been observed that pirates go over 200mm to launch attacks on vessels transiting through the CNC Maritime AOR.
“The incessant attacks would continue to affect the nation’s economic fortunes if allowed to persist. The operation will therefore show our resolve to address this unfortunate occurrences in our AOR as part of the Navy efforts to tackle piracy and other economic threats in our maritime area.
“It is important to also state that the CNS has approved NN participation in the third edition of NIMASA/ INTERPOL sea operation code named ” Operation 30 days at Sea 2021.
“The NN as one of the lead agencies would assist to drive the exercise aimed at enhancing response of global law enforcement network to marine pollution and violation in breach of the international convention for the prevention of pollution from ships and national legislation.
“Additionally, it is targeted at improving on NIN’s anti-pollution role and support the operation of national operational plan to be implemented in the framework of operations 30 days at sea.”
Also speaking, the Special Guest of Honour and Flag Officer Commanding Logistics Command, Rear Admiral Sama’ila Lassa, reiterated that the fight against piracy and armed robbery at sea as well as crude oil theft have remained top priority of the Nigerian Navy.
He said the overall aim was towards enhancing socio-economic development and national prosperity .
He said: “The operations command has therefore continued to leverage existing technology legal mechanism including the extant international legal regimes towards protection of critical national assets and arresting persons and organisations that perpetrate criminality in Nigeria’s maritime space.”