Nigeria Navy Presidential Fleet Review to honour Buhari —CNS

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, has said that the Nigeria Navy Presidential Fleet Review which will take place from Friday to Monday, will honour President Muhammadu Buhari’s achievements.

“Permit me to inform this audience that PFRs are traditional events, which navies across the world conduct in order to honour their sovereigns or heads of government.

“It involves assemblage of ships and other maritime assets at a designated area for the purpose of demonstrating loyalty and allegiance to the State.”

The CNS who was represented by

Rear Admiral Saidu Suleiman Garba, Chief of Policy and Plans Naval Headquarters Abuja, said the review also provides an avenue for the President to assess the navy’s preparedness to meet statutory obligations in maritime security, safety and defence within a global/regional collaborative approach. During a PFR, the president/head of state is invited to review the fleet in commemoration of a historical event, celebration of important anniversary or any other activity deemed necessary. Some of the occasions to organise a fleet review include special landmarks of either the navy or the country.

“The NN has attended many Fleet reviews with the nation’s Flag Ship, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) ARADU particularly, in the UK in 2005 to celebrate the Bi-centenary of the battle of Trafalgar and in 2007 in Brazil to celebrate the centenary of the Brazilian Navy. NNS THUNDER also sailed to Australia in 2013 to celebrate the centenary of the Australian Navy. More recently, the NN sent personnel to participate in the Bangladesh navy fleet review in december 2022, to celebrate the centenary of the birth of the father of the bangladesh nation, bangabandhu sheikh mujbue rahman and the golden jubilee of the country’s independence. in nigeria, the last pfr was conducted in 2010 in honour of then president goodluck jonathan and to mark the 50th anniversary of nigeria’s independence.

“Permit me to recall that during the 8-year administration of president Muhammadu Buhari a total of 20 capital ships were procured for the NN. The ships comprise of offshore patrol vessels, landing ship transport, hydrographic survey vessels, seaward defence boats, helicopters, as well as, over 300 inshore patrol vessels and assault crafts.

“The President also commissioned 2 locally built ships in 2016 and 2021, and laid the keel for 2 more, which will be ready by 2024. The NN deems it appropriate to honour the commander-in-chief for his support to the service.

“The PFR 2023 is therefore organised in honour of president Muhammadu Buhari, in recognition of his generous contribution to the service and the nation at large.

“The PFR involves 16 NN warships, 3 x AW109E NN helicopters and a mix of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Aircraft. The participating NN ships are NNS THUNDER, NNS CENTENARY, NNS IKENNE, NNS KADA, NNS LANA, NNS KANO, NNS NGURU, NNS IBENO, NNS ABA, NNS OJI, NNS ANDONI, NNS OSUN, NNS OSE, NNS EKULU, NNS GONGOLA and NNS SHIRORO.

“The participating NAF aircraft are 1 x MI35 Helicopter, 1 x Diamond-42, 1 x ATR-42 MPA and 3 x A29 Super Tucano. Some foreign warships from allied nations including Spain, Brazil and Ghana are also expected to participate in the exercise.”