The Nigerian Navy (NN) says its newest offshore survey vessel, NNS LANA, is expected in the country in May as it has begun her homeward journey to Nigeria.
The Director of Information of the Nigerian Naval Headquarters, Commodore Suleman Dahun, said in a statement on Saturday in Abuja that the ship would on its way to Nigeria before heading to Nigeria on May 17, visit ports in Lisbon, Las Palmas, Banjul and Tema-Ghana.
Dahun explained that the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Adm. Awwal Gambo, had addressed the ship’s company and that the CNS noted that the foremost desire of every littoral state is to have a fleet with the right mix of platforms to meet its operational objectives.
Gambo acknowledged that the homebound voyage of NNS LANA was another milestone in the NN’s fleet recapitalisation efforts.
According to Gambo, the induction of NNS LANA will enhance the Navy’s capacity to provide survey services and charting, which are crucial to safe navigation and maritime security.
Gambo also said that the ship would add to the Nigerian Navy’s power of providing security to the nation’s maritime environment and the Gulf of Guinea.
Local media reports on Sunday said that Gambo commended the entire NNS LANA ship company for their good conduct since their arrival in France, and for cooperating with Messrs OCEA, the French company that constructed the ship.
He explained that the NNS LANA was designed with some ship borne training activities intended to broaden the company’s knowledge and sharpen their skills in handling the ship and its systems.
He, therefore, enjoined the ship company to take the training seriously and absorb as much as possible, as they have become potential reference point to subsequent ship’s company.
GIK/APA