Kofi Ampeah Woode
From the western port city of Sekondi, Ghana Navy Ship (GNS) BLIKA set sail for the boundless deep towards the rising of the Sun, till the vessel prevailed and lowered anchor ashore at the Naval Dockyard Limited, Victoria, Lagos, Nigeria, to solidarize for the first time, with the country’s 2023 Presidential Fleet Review, held in honour of its Commander in Chief.
The occasion which coincided with the Meeting of the Heads of Navies and Coastguards of the Gulf of Guinea nations, had the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) – Rear Admiral (R/Adm) Issah Adam Yakubu lead a delegation from the Ghana Navy (GN) on Monday 22 May 2023, and were joined by Italian Navy Ship, NAVE BORSINI.
In great appreciation of the gesture of the GN, Nigeria’s CNS – Vice Admiral (V/Adm) Awwal Zubairu Gambo said the Fleet Review marked a major milestone in the annals of the Nigerian Navy (NN), as it afforded an unprecedented support, in terms of fleet recapitalization, infrastructural development and personnel welfare, thereby boosting morale and fighting efficiency.
Admiral Gambo said Nigeria’s former President Muhammadu Buhari approved the acquisition of vessels and several air assets, such as two 76m High Endurance Offshore Patrol Vessels from Turkey, three 45m Fast Patrol Boats from France and two Augusta Westland helicopters amongst others currently under construction, to bolster maritime security operational efforts.
Presidential Fleet Reviews – assemblage of ships and other maritime assets at a designated area for the purpose of demonstrating loyalty and allegiance to the state – are traditional events where navies across the world honour their sovereigns or heads of governments.
The Review also provides an avenue for the President, to assess the preparedness of navies in meeting statutory obligations in the maritime security, safety and defence within a global and regional collaborative approach.
The event also saw the commissioning of a Landing Ship Transport, an Inshore Patrol Craft and 1 Augusta Westland Grand New Light Utility Helicopter, all of which form part of ships reviewed along Lagos Channel, and a Cultural and Awards Night.
