The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Sa’ad Ibrahim, has said a 31-metre seaward defence boat constructed locally by the Nigerian navy will be inaugurated today as part of the activities marking the command’s 56 years existence in Nigeria.

Ibrahim disclosed this while speaking during an interdenominational service that was held on Sunday at the St. Peters Anglican Communion, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, to mark the 56 anniversary of the navy.

According to Vice Admiral Ibrahim the ship was built in line with the transformation agenda of the Federal Government which encouraged the Nigerian Navy to go into the business of constructing its vessels locally.

The Service Chief in the address which was read by the flag officer commanding, Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Johnson Olutoyin, described the vessel as the first locally constructed warship in the West African sub-region. He said the milestone would herald sustained research and development in the navy in the interest of national transformation.

The inauguration, will be preceded by President Goodluck Jonathan’s laying of the keel for a second seaward defence boat which will be built soon.

He further said that the President had approved the purchase of two new offshore patrol vessels adding that modern regional maritime awareness capability systems had been installed to monitor the coastal waters.

“Our maritime frontiers are now better watched in recent times”, he said noting that the newly created Central Navy Command in Bayelsa State would help to tackle myriads of security challenges in the waterways.

Ibrahim said the command had already started combating various forms of trafficking, militancy, sabotage and piracy in the state adding that all the vulnerable points had been covered by the command.

“We must rededicate our efforts in building a robust service that will be the pride of the nation. We must continue to be loyal to the President and to the nation in general”, he said.

While narrating the efforts of the navy in the state, Olutoyin said it had contributed in combating illegal bunkering, piracy and other criminal activities.

He said the navy had collaborated with other security agencies including the Joint Task Force condenamed Operation Pulo Shield to tackle crime.

“The Nigerian Navy has come to stay in this state. Since our arrival in the state we have been able to contribute immensely to combating the series of illegal activities. No service alone can do it. We must come together to do it and we are doing it in collaboration with other security agencies”, he declared.