ADDRESS BY THE CHIEF OF THE NAVAL STAFF VICE ADMIRAL AZ GAMBO AM GSS psc ensp (RSA) MTM MNIM MUSNI FIIPS FCAI DURING THE RECEPTION CEREMONY OF THE OFFSHORE SURVEY VESSEL 190 NNS LANA ON 17 MAY 2021
PROTOCOL
1. It is my pleasure on behalf of the officers, ratings and civilian staff of the Nigerian Navy (NN) to respectfully welcome our distinguished invited guests to this Reception Ceremony in honour of NNS LANA and her crew for the successful completion of the ship’s maiden voyage from France to Nigeria. We appreciate your good wishes for the safe arrival of the ship and we are delighted to have you all in our midst as we welcome this new ship into the NN inventory. I wish to most respectfully extend our special thanks and profound gratitude to His Excellency the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Muhammadu Buhari for granting approval for the acquisition of the vessel and provision of necessary logistics for the homebound trip.
2. Distinguished invited guests, permit me to state that after a colourful Change of Flag Ceremony in France last month, I bid NNS LANA farewell as she cast off on her homebound voyage. I am indeed grateful to the Almighty God for granting the ship and her crew safe passage. Today’s reception ceremony therefore gives me joy and a feeling of accomplishment just as every member of the ships’ company as well as their family members and loved ones feel today.
3. NNS LANA’s maiden voyage afforded the ship’s company the opportunity to pay port calls to 4 countries namely, Portugal, Spain, The Gambia and Ghana. These port calls were in keeping with NN’s diplomatic role, an opportunity to further consolidate the nation’s diplomatic relations with friendly littoral states and allies. I wish to commend the enthusiasm and professionalism exhibited by the Commanding Officer and his crew throughout the voyage. The conduct of the ship’s company aligns with the NN core values of Professionalism, Integrity and Team work and I enjoin the ship’s crew to keep it up.
4. Notably, at the inception of the NN with limited capacity to operate just within 3nm of the nation’s Territorial Waters, the Service was saddled with undertaking hydrographic surveys. The hydrographic survey duties were then performed by 2 survey vessels namely PATHFINDER and PETREL. Today’s event therefore highlights the importance of hydrographic capability to maritime operations. The induction of NNS LANA into the NN fleet with her state-of-the-art hydrographic survey equipment would enhance the capacity of the Service to conduct hydrographic survey and provide charting services for safe navigation as well as delivery of maritime security. Thus, as we welcome NNS LANA, the ship would soon join other NN ships at sea to contribute to NN’s effort in the defence of the nation’s maritime environment.
5. Before I conclude, it is instructive to state that the FGN has embraced the Blue Economy initiative in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal-14 Agenda. This entails the sustainable exploration and exploitation of vast resources in the nation’s maritime environment. Pertinently, the provision of quality hydrographic services is key to the development of the various sectors of the Blue Economy. Therefore, the acquisition of this Offshore Survey Vessel is an affirmation of the FGN’s commitment towards the nation’s economic development. Accordingly, the NN is poised to collaborate with other maritime stakeholders in the deployment of this new platform to actualise the FGN’s vision of developing a sustainable Blue Economy that would contribute to the nation’s socio-economic prosperity.
6. On this note, I wish to once again thank Mr President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces for his enormous support to the NN’s recapitalisation effort. I must use this opportunity to reaffirm our unalloyed loyalty to the Government and good people of our dear country. I wish to extend my profound appreciation to the spouses and family members of the crew of NNS LANA who have kept the home front running in the absence of these sailors. To our Distinguished invited guests, we are indeed honoured by your presence. I wish you all a safe return to your various destinations. Thank you all, God bless and Onward Together.