To further improve the regional security in the country, the Nigerian Navy has taken delivery of a United States donated warship (WHEC-718), renaming it NNS Thunder.
Speaking during the transfer ceremony of the warship to the Nigerian Navy at the Coast Guard Island, Alameda, California on Friday, Nigeria’s ambassador to the United States, Prof. Adebowale Adefuye said that the transfer of the ship would strengthen and improve Nigerian defence capability.
He also said that the warship will give the ability to operate a free and uninterrupted production in the Gulf Coast.
Speaking further, the Nigerian ambassador said that Nigeria, as the largest supplier of crude oil to the United States, will make use of the newly acquired ship (NNS Thunder) in meeting its goals and objectives to America.
“America and Nigeria have similar strategic global objectives among which is the establishment and strengthening of the principles of democracy and democratic projection in West Africa and Africa as a whole,” he noted.
With the addition of NNS Thunder to its fleet, Prof. Adefuye said, Nigeria will be assisted in increasing its defence capability and be a strong deterrent to would-be pirates and enemies of the Nigerian democratic process.
He pressed further that the acquisition was a sign of the importance that the US government attached to Nigeria, saying that it was a good way to further implement the provisions in the US-Nigeria Bi-national Commission.
“With this ship, we will be able to effectively promote the security of the Gulf region coast, we will be able to effectively monitor the events in this area. We will be able to stop the activities of smugglers, pirates and those who tamper with our oil. We will also monitor what is happening in the West African Coast. It will further improve the regional security aspect of the agreement because it will be used to prevent Pirates. It will further improve the regional security aspect of the agreement because it will be used to prevent Pirates,” Adefuye stressed.
Also speaking at the transfer ceremony, Vice Admiral Manson Brown, the Commander of the Coast Guard Pacific Area, said that the Nigerian sailors who had been on training at the Coast are of core values of integrity, professionalism and teamwork, adding that their standard closely match the US concepts of honour, respect and devotion to duty.
His words: “The bonds between Nigeria and the United States are strong and the US Coast Guard is honoured to be instrument of America’s cooperation with our Nigerian partners”.
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