COMMISSIONING OF 5 GUNBOATS OF THE NIGERIAN POLICE MARINE UNIT LAGOS BY THE SGOH, CHIEF OF THE NAVAL STAFF, ON FRIDAY 9 DECEMBER 2022.
During the commissioning ceremony, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, delivered an address that focused on praising the police leadership and pledging strong inter-agency support.
The core points of his speech included:
- Commendation of the IGP: He highly praised Inspector-General of Police Usman Alkali Baba for his strategic focus on acquiring heavy operational hardware. He noted that investing in these tools was a “worthy legacy” that would drastically improve the long-term capacity of the Nigeria Police Force.
- Relevance to Maritime Transport: He pointed out that maritime security threats are constantly evolving. He emphasized that adding these new platforms to the water is crucial, especially as the government actively works to expand transport options and encourage more citizens to patronize maritime travel.
- Naval Support and Collaboration: He explicitly assured the IGP and the police family of the Nigerian Navy’s full, unwavering support. He emphasized that the Navy would collaborate closely with the Marine Police to guarantee the safety of Nigeria’s inland waterways and ensure the protection of lives and properties.
- Maintenance Culture: He highlighted the critical importance of implementing a strong maintenance culture to ensure the gunboats remain operational and effective against inland water criminalities over time.