Israel assists Nigeria with ship to fight marine crime – Navy

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi and Musa Adamu

Nigerian Navy yesterday informed the senate that Israeli firm, Systems and Technology Limited ( HLSI), provides assistance in terms of Ship to boost security in the Nigeria maritime sector.
The navy clarified that the foreign firm was only contracted to offer it required platforms in terms of vessels for effective policing of the Anchorage Area.
This was sequel to an investigative hearing of the joint committees on alleged Illegal security activities of Messrs Ocean Marine Solutions Limited (OMSL) at the ports.
Specifically, at the investigative hearing, the representative of the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Tarioworio Dick, who is the Chief of Naval Operations, in his submissions, said the Navy was expecting a vessel from an Israeli firm to boost its security operations in the water ways.
The Chief of Naval Operations had told the committee that “I’m aware that there is a contract like that for provision of required facilities”.
He insisted that the involvement of the Israeli firm was for platform provision and not direct security operations on Nigerian water ways.
He said “For me, the aspect I have seen is that they are providing some platforms for the Nigerian Navy which we are going to use. The vessels they are providing for us have not arrived Nigeria, but there will be weapons on these vessels”.
He said the vessels will be manned by Nigerian Navy personnel.
“As I speak, one of the vessels is on the way. We have nine of our personnel on board that vessel. I am aware that the vessel is on the way. I am aware that the vessel will be armed but I can’t tell you more than this”.