Senate President David Mark said the National Assembly (NASS) would “do all that is constitutionally and morally right” to support the Nigerian Navy to improve the nation’s maritime security.

Mark who stated this at a seminar organised by the navy as part of its 56th anniversary said giving the country’s reliance on the maritime environment for economic survival and prosperity, it is pertinent to stress the need to ensure a secure maritime at all times,’’ said Mark, who was represented by  Sen. Ayogu Eze.

“This, indeed, is a critical requirement for the attainment of the objective and goals of the national Transformation Agenda and Vision 20:2020,” he said.

Mark said Nigeria needed a virile navy for the attainment of national maritime security and economic prosperity, adding that an upsurge in piracy, pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft, illegal bunkering and militancy had put an additional burden on the navy in the protection of the maritime domain.

“Another worrisome issue is the knowledge that Nigeria’s multi-billion dollar offshore investments like the Bonga and Agbami oil exploration and exploitation projects remain inadequately protected due to insufficient platforms on the part of the navy.

“This is certainly not good for the image of Nigeria as a sovereign nation. We cannot afford to continue to turn a blind eye to the plight of the navy,” he said.

The senate president said Nigeria would be undermining its national security and economic prosperity if it neglected the navy.

He, however, noted that in past few years, a number of vessels had been added to the Nigerian Navy (NN) fleet thereby enhancing its presence at sea.

Mark said that given the capital intensive nature of naval operations and dwindling national resources, there was a need to explore other funding options to complement budgetary allocation.

“Therefore, this seminar could not have come at a better time than now; consequently, I urge this august body to participate actively in this event through insightful contributions and generation of robust ideas.

Earlier, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Ola Ibrahim, said the objective of the seminar was to acquaint the various arms of government and maritime stakeholders with the activities of the NN.

Ibrahim urged NASS to provide the legislative support to the service to discharge its responsibilities and roles effectively.

He said Nigeria derived about 90 per cent of its foreign exchange earnings from oil and gas in the nation’s maritime environment and for which the NN had primacy to secure.

‘It, therefore, makes sense to posit that any investment in the NN to build a credible sea power that will guarantee our maritime defence, is an intelligent investment.