OPENING REMARKS BY THE CHIEF OF THE NAVAL STAFF VICE ADMIRAL AZ GAMBO GSS AM psc ensp (RSA) MTM MNIM MUSNI FCIS FIIPS FCAI FOR THE COMMISSIONING CEREMONY OF FALCON EYE ALIGNMENT AT NAVAL HEADQUARTERS ON 13 JULY 2021
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1. On behalf of the officers, ratings, and civilian staff of the NN, I am greatly honoured at the privilege to welcome in our midst the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) ably represented by the Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo (GCON) and all our highly esteemed guests to Naval Headquarters for this epoch-making commissioning ceremony of the Falcon Eye Alignment project. I am profoundly humbled at the rare privilege of having His Excellency as our Special Guest of Honour and deeply appreciative for His personal identification with the Service, despite your extremely tight schedule. We also recognise in a special way, the presence of the Honourable Ministers, the National Security Adviser, Chief of Defence Staff and Service Chiefs as well as other very important personalities and indeed all our invited guests gathered here this morning. You are all most welcome, Your Excellency Sir, your presence here today reaffirms your unflinching support to the NN’s endeavour at ensuring a secured maritime environment for unhindered legitimate economic activities.
2. With the kind indulgence of Mr President Sir, I beg to recall that the significance of today’s event arose out of the need for a national maritime security architecture that would leverage modern technology to enhance the safeguard of the immense hydrocarbon, living and other mineral resources in the nations maritime domain. Notably, Nigeria’s maritime environment is strategic to her national survival, prosperity and the sustenance of her pre-eminence position among the comity of nations. Unfortunately, this environment also experiences a myriad of illegal activities owing to the large maritime space in relation to the available policing and logistic capabilities. This threat situation precipitated the need for a robust Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) system thus necessitating the establishment of the Falcon Eye Alignment by the Office of the National Security Adviser in 2015. Suffice to mention that the NN’s MDA infrastructure presently comprises the Regional Maritime Awareness Capability sub-systems, which was earlier established in conjunction with the United States’ Government in 2008 and the FALCON Eye Alignment, which is being commissioned today.
3. The Falcon Eye System incorporates surveillance and intelligence capabilities that enable decision making on shipping activities, maritime safety and violation of maritime laws. The System combines various sensors such as coastal radars, Over the Horizon Radars, cameras with night vision capability, and Automatic Identification System to generate a comprehensive picture of the Nigerian maritime environment. In particular, the Project includes the deployment of 5 Over the Horizon Radars to cover the entire nation’s coastline and up to 200 nm (that is 370.4 km) seaward. This translates to a complete coverage of Nigeria’s Exclusive Economic Zone. Monitoring and analysis of data from the various sensor sites strategically located along the nation’s coastline is facilitated through the 4 Falcon Eye Centres at Abuja, Lagos, Yenagoa, and Calabar.
4. Pertinently, the coverage of the Satellite aspect of the Automatic Identification System of Falcon Eye Alignment extends beyond Nigerian waters to Cote D’Ivoire at the West, Cameroun at the East, and Angola at the South East. This significant capability enhances the maritime projection capabilities of the country and enables the NN to maintain strategic partnership on information sharing, especially with navies of the Gulf of Guinea nations, as well as the Indian and Italian navies. In the domestic arena, the Falcon Eye Alignment collaborates with various maritime regulatory agencies such as the Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Marine Police, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Immigration Service, and other sister Services, amongst others. Accordingly, the Nigerian Ports Authority has deployed its staff who have since resumed at this Falcon Eye Main Control Centre being commissioned today while other agencies are being awaited to occupy their desk. This collaboration would not only foster synergy but also promote a holistic understanding of activities in Nigeria’s maritime domain which is crucial to commonality of efforts by all stakeholders towards curbing maritime crimes.
5. Remarkably, the NN has recorded successes in her fight against illegalities at sea through the employment of the Falcon Eye facility. From 2016 to date, the intelligence generated from the Falcon Eye System led to the seizure of over 300,000 bags of foreign rice valued at 9 Billion Naira and arrest of over 500 suspects. It also led to the arrest of 70 oil tankers laden with stolen products valued at over One Billion Dollars. Furthermore, it led to the arrest of over 30 vessels engaged in Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported Fishing, as well as arrest of over 50 pirates. Also, the System is a force multiplier that helps the NN to optimise its limited resources in terms of limited available platforms and logistics requirements towards intelligently policing the nation’s vast maritime space. It goes without saying that the Falcon Eye System is indeed a valuable surveillance and intelligence asset for the NN and the Service is better positioned to guarantee maritime security to the outermost limits of the nation’s exclusive economic zone. This, in turn, will boost Nigeria’s oil and gas production, as well as other maritime activities that are essential for the sustenance of the nation and her citizenry.
6. I assure you Sir, that the NN is fully conscious of the huge investment the nation has continued to make for improved maritime security, as evidenced by this infrastructure being commissioned today. The credit for the attainment of this huge feat goes to the Federal Government of Nigeria. I particularly acknowledge the timely intervention which led to the eventual release of appropriate sites for the project at Bonny, Segpe and Yokri. Therefore, Mr President Sir, I thank you immensely for your relentless commitment to the establishment of this facility and pledge the judicious use of the facility. I also humbly use this opportunity to crave for Your Excellency’s continued support for NN in her efforts to emplace a safe and secure maritime environment.
7. Once again, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I welcome Mr President and all our esteemed guests to this memorable event. Thank you and Onward Together.