The Minister of Defence, Major Gen. Bashir Magashi (rtd.), says the nation’s maritime environment accounts for about 70 per cent of the Federal Government’s revenue.
He said that the government was concerned about rising activities of oil thieves, illegal oil bunkering and pipeline vandals that constituted threat to the nation’s revenue generation.
He stated this during the presentation of 50 gunboats to the Navy by Aiteo firm to tackle attacks on critical oil and gas facilities by vandals.
“More worrisome is the fact that sustained oil pipeline vandalism has led to environmental degradation in the Niger Delta, resulting in agitations in the region.
“This underscores the need to employ a robust protection and defensive measure that would encompass the surveillance, monitoring and prompt interdiction of potential threats”, he said.
Also speaking, Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Iraboh, said the new platforms would be deployed to complement other internal security operations across the country.
Iraboh assured that the boats would be used for its set objectives of securing lives and property, including the nation’s oil and gas installations.
Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer, Aiteo firm, Benedict Peters, said the company decided to donate the equipment to the Navy due to series of attacks on critical oil and gas facilities by vandals.
 A director in the company, Andrew Oru, who represented the COE, expressed optimism that the equipment would complement Federal Government’s efforts in tackling the menace.
“We know that the Nigerian Navy stands in the best position to address this menace if adequately equipped and supported.
“Aiteo resolved to maximally lend its hands of fellowship by handing over these operational support equipment to enable the navy to secure the waterways and facilities”, he said. 

By: Chinedu Wosu