REMARKS BY THE CHIEF OF THE NAVAL STAFF VICE ADMIRAL AZ GAMBO AM GSS psc ensp (RSA) MTM MNIM MUSNI FCIS FIIPS FCAI AT THE COMMISSIONING AND LAUNCHING CEREMONY OF PATROL BOATS DONATED TO THE NIGERIAN NAVY BY AITEO GROUP LIMITED AT NNS PATHFINDER ON 4 AUGUST 2021
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1. On behalf of the officers, ratings and civilian staff of the Nigerian Navy, I am elated to be in the midst of this gathering of distinguished personalities and critical stakeholders here today on the occasion of the commissioning and launching ceremony of patrol boats and other maritime security assets donated by AITEO Group Limited to the NN. I am humbled at the privilege of hosting our Special Guest of Honour and appreciate his concern for the NN. I wish to also recognize in a special way, the presence of other Honourable Ministers as well as very important personalities. You are all most welcome.
2. The nation’s Maritime Environment is richly endowed with living and non-living resources and their exploitation constitutes a major source of revenue to the Federal Government of Nigeria. Hence, the maritime environment is regarded as the nation’s Economic Centre of Gravity. Accordingly, the NN is saddled with the constitutional responsibility of securing the nation’s maritime domain as well as the protection of the Critical Maritime Assets therein. The desire to safeguard the vast expanse of the nation’s maritime domain from all forms of threats for socio-economic activities to thrive prompted the NN to collaborate with critical maritime stakeholders among Federal agencies, sector-specific agencies and private sector stakeholders. This development aligns with the provisions of the NN 2021–2030 Strategic Plan on Inter-agency and Sub-regional Cooperation. Today’s event thus marks another milestone in NN’s collaborative engagement with corporate maritime stakeholders to rid the nation’s maritime environment of the activities of criminal elements and economic saboteurs for the wellbeing of the citizenry and the nation at large. No doubt, with all hands on deck, we can achieve more in our quest to emplace a safe and secured maritime domain.
3. Notably, the donation of these maritime security assets by AITEO Group Limited is a laudable initiative which further attests to the depth and commitment of the Company to her Corporate Social Responsibility. Without mincing words, this is a remarkable gesture of support to the NN’s maritime security operations effort. We are indeed grateful to the Chief Executive Officer and management staff of AITEO Group Limited. These platforms would enhance NN maritime security architecture and bolster her maritime security operations effort. Furthermore, the NN would be more robustly poised to engage other maritime stakeholders to effectively meet the prevailing maritime security challenges especially within and around the Nembe Creek Trunkline that has been beset by the activities of crude oil thieves, illegal bunkering syndicates and pipeline vandals.
4. Before I conclude, I am pleased to note that today’s event further re-affirms the warm and cordial relations between the NN and critical maritime stakeholders like AITEO Group Limited. Permit me to seize this opportunity to express my desire to see more progress in our collaboration for the benefit of Nigerians and our dear country. The NN will therefore take ownership of these platforms and assets while assuring the Chief Executive Officer of AITEO Group Limited that we will ensure the sustainability and maintenance of these platforms and their deployment to meet the desired purpose.
5. On this note, I wish to once again express my sincere appreciation to the Chief Executive Officer, management and staff of AITEO Group Limited for this highly significant gesture of support to the NN. I want to thank our Special Guest of Honour for making time out of his very busy schedule to witness this occasion while also appreciating other esteemed invited guests for honouring our invitation. I wish you a safe return to your various destinations. Thank you, God bless and Onward Together.