Navy Gets New Warships, Helicopters

The Nigerian Navy has taken delivery of two brand new warships, the Manta, 38 metre Offshore Patrol Craft (OPC), as well as two new helicopter gunships, the Augusta Helicopter all from Italy. The two naval vessels were received last weekend from the suppliers, the South East Asia based Suncraft International, by top naval personnel in Lagos. An elated Director of Naval Information, Commodore David Nabaida said that, the Nigerian Navy has taken delivery of two 38 metre Manta class Offshore Patrol Craft which would help beef up the Navy's capacity to protect offshore facilities including the Escravos, the Agbani, and the Bonga, in addition to the other platforms we have, to enable us maintain more presence at sea.

He explained that, the two vessels will have the capacity to patrol and intercept any threat and to deal with the threat. With speed in excess of 30 nautical miles per hour he went on, the Offshore Patrol Boats would be able to patrol much of the nation's 200 nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Already, the crew of the vessels have been designated and would soon commence training on board, the naval chief informed, adding, preparations for the commissioning of the warships into the Navy and the dedication of the helicopters are underway.

The new vessels, Commodore Nabaida continued, are expected to operate in two squadrons, meaning that they would be going on patrol duties with two each of the 17 metre Manta boats procured from Singapore Technologies Marine (ST Marine), a premier shipyard providing turnkey shipbuilding, ship conversion and ship repair services to a worldwide customer base in the naval and commercial markets. He made it known that, the four 17 metre Manta boats were received into service last year.

Already, the suppliers of the two new Patrol Crafts, are expected to officially brief the top echelon of the Navy on their priced new procurement at the Naval Headquarters, Abuja. Sources said that the procurement was part of the project started in the second half of 2006 and funded by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for the re-equipment of the Nigerian Navy. Under the scheme, the Navy has received many platforms aimed at enabling it to secure better the nation's maritime interests and installations. According to further explanations, generally, the patrol boats provide a budget-conscious solution to a set of operational requirements including: General policing missions in coastal waters; Customs control and anti-terrorist operations at sea; Offshore protection and tracking; Surveillance of the Exclusive Economic Zone; Defence and protection of national sea areas; and Operations within integrated task forces.

Specifically, the Offshore Patrol Crafts would engage in various border protection roles including anti-bunkering, anti-smuggling, antipiracy, fisheries patrols, immigration law enforcement and Search and Rescue (S&R) at sea. Last month, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ishaya Ibrahim, informed the Minister of Defence, Dr Shettima Mustafa, that the Navy would take delivery of the first set of 38 metre Manta boat in the first week of March. He also told Dr Mustafa, who was on a familiarisation tour of military formations and facilities, that the Navy needed about 35 Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV), Offshore Patrol Crafts (OPC) and In-shore Patrol Crafts (IPCs) for the effective surveillance of the nation's maritime interests, especially the guarantee of security in the Niger Delta and the Gulf of Guinea . Vice Admiral Ibrahim said the Navy desires the ability and capacity to police more than 60 nautical miles of the nation's coastal lines.

He noted that the current capacity to patrol Nigeria 's maritime interest is confined to just between 20 and 50 nautical miles, stating that it is no longer adequate going by the level of activities in the Nigerian ports, increasing number of offshore oil installations and the increasing global interest in the Gulf of Guinea. He noted that the activities of the Navy at the checking points have greatly reduced the level of illegal bunkering and kidnapping in the creeks.

Nigeria-Arms Procurement and Defense Industries
Nigeria Index

Like most Third World states, Nigeria depended largely on foreign sources for arms and military mat�riel. However, its arms acquisitions exhibited two distinctive features. First, Nigeria had one of the most internationally diversified and balanced defense procurement strategies. Nigeria acquired arms from about eight suppliers during 1978-82, tying Zaire as the most diversified sub-Saharan state (see table 20, Appendix). Its largest supplier during that period, West Germany, provided only about one-third of its US$845 million total. This diversified pattern became even more pronounced in the mid-1980s. During 1983-87, Nigeria imported military mat�riel valued at US$1.5 billion from about ten major suppliers--more than any other African state, and Italy, its largest supplier, accounted for only 23 percent.

Nigeria relied on equally diverse foreign suppliers of military technical services, while making gradual progress toward indigenization. A long-standing, military training arrangement with Britain ended in late 1986 with the Nigerianization of training. West German assistance was engaged to improve the Navy Technical Training Centre at Sapele, which was set up and operated with the help of Dornier (Nigeria). A West German firm also received a contract in late 1987 to upgrade radar and weapons systems for Aradu, the German Meko-360H class frigate. The Czechoslovak defense minister visited Nigeria in late 1987 and offered to assist in expanding arms production efforts. Yugoslavia offered to train NAF pilots, and Bulgaria provided equipment maintenance services. In May 1989, Nigeria discussed with Romania cooperation between their air forces and the manufacture and maintenance of tanks, armored personnel carriers, and other military vehicles and possible modernization of Nigeria's T-55 tanks. In October 1989, the chief of army staff made a ten-day official visit to France and China to explore military cooperation.

Defense ties with Third World countries were especially notable. In addition to military cooperation with African countries, Nigeria concluded defense cooperation, military personnel, and exchange agreements with the Republic of Korea (South Korea); Nigeria also discussed naval cooperation, especially officer training, with India (see Local and Bilateral Issues; African and Regional Issues , this ch.). Military ties with Brazil expanded considerably after conclusion of a 1983 military cooperation accord. The two countries established a joint committee in December 1985 to examine military training and exchange programs, and their joint military-naval exercise in December 1987 ended with a pledge to pursue more extensive cooperation.

United States arms transfers and security assistance to Nigeria were modest. During fiscal years (FY) 1972-90, United States Foreign Military Sales deliveries and licensed commercial exports of defense articles and services totaled US$63 million and US$110.8 million, respectively. Previously, during FY 1962-72 the United States had provided International Military Education and Training (IMET) grants valued at US$1.5 million to train 480 Nigerian military personnel. After a thirteen-year hiatus, IMET grants were renewed in FY 1986 and have been funded annually since at more than US$90,000 for more than twenty students. A total of 585 Nigerian military students had participated in the IMET program by FY 1990.

Nigeria's fledgling domestic defense industry was the second distinctive source of military mat�riel, particularly for small arms, ammunition, and maintenance and repair services. The stateowned Defence Industries Corporation (DIC), established in 1964, geared up to produce ammunition during the civil war. By the 1970s, its facilities in Kaduna produced West German-designed HK G-3 rifles, BM-59 and PM-12 handguns, and 7.62mm and 9mm parabellum ammunition. Lack of financial and management support, however, impeded further progress until the DIC was reenergized in 1984 by then army chief of staff Babangida. After becoming president, Babangida expanded the DIC to increase Nigeria's selfreliance .

In 1977 the army decided to standardize its infantry weapons with Belgian FAL assault rifles, Browning GP pistols, and MAG machine guns. In 1978 licensed production rights were acquired, and in 1980 the DIC's facilities in Kaduna were adapted and upgraded by Belgian technicians to assemble these weapons. Production began in 1983; full production capacity was achieved in 1987; and the next year the DIC was reported to be relying entirely on local raw materials and to be producing all the basic rifles and ammunition the army and police used. Its annual production capacity was 15,000 FAL rifles, 9,000 to 10,000 GP pistols, and 1,000 MAG machine guns. The FAL rifle entered service in 1989 as the NR-1.

In addition to the small arms and ammunition factories at Kaduna, newer facilities for the assembly of armored fighting vehicles and light tanks were under development at Bauchi in 1990. Austrian Steyr 680M 4x4 tactical military trucks were reportedly assembled there, and it was also planned to produce Pinzgauer light tracked armored vehicles and Steyr 4K 7FA tracked armored personnel carriers. By 1987 the DIC employed 2,000 to 3,000 people at its Kaduna and Bauchi plants. Indications of a nascent commercial defense industry included a manufacturer in Anambra State whose inexpensive jeeps included military models being tested by the army; a local service industry to supply uniforms, accoutrements, and selected ordnance mat�riel; and increased domestic souring for aircraft and naval ship components and maintenance services. Local assembly of West German MBB Bo105 helicopters for the air force was also contemplated. Further progress hinged on the availability of foreign capital and technology, joint ventures, and export opportunities, especially for rifles and ammunition.

On its silver anniversary April 22, 1989, the air force unveiled and conducted a test flight of a prototype of Nigeria's first domestically built aircraft, the Air Beetle. Jointly built over two years by the NAF and a West German Kaduna-based firm from the design of the United States Van RV-6 sport aircraft, the Air Beetle had the unique feature of being able to fly on standard automobile fuel. This two-seat, single engine airplane was intended to be the primary trainer for the NAF, replacing the aging British Bulldog trainers. The production program called for sixty units by 1992 and eventual development of an improved version, the Super Air Beetle. In early 1990, the first export orders were reported, and forty aircraft of the first production run were scheduled for delivery to foreign customers.

Under a national aircraft maintenance policy approved in 1987, depots were being set up around the country with the aim of achieving complete overhaul capability for all civil and military aircraft. In July 1988, a task force to implement the national aircraft maintenance center was inaugurated. The center will be a civilian organization with the capability to service, maintain, and overhaul military aircraft and components. In 1989 the air force was directed to indigenize 50 percent of its maintenance work within ten years. The manufacture of such basic aircraft components and spare parts as hydraulic units and actuators, brakes, and plastic passenger cabin parts had also begun by the late 1980s. These domestic production and technical service industries were intended to save foreign exchange, to foster self-reliance, and to promote a local technological and industrial base.

The navy also turned increasingly to local suppliers for spare parts and maintenance services. In mid-1989 about 40 percent of the spare parts for naval vessels reportedly had been produced in Nigeria, and the navy saved N20 million at that time (for value of the naira--see Glossary) by using locally made parts including propeller shafts and generator parts. The new navy dockyard, opened at the end of 1990 at Victoria Island near Lagos, will eventually have the capacity to boost domestic production of spare parts for ships to 70 percent of requirements and to permit future modification and even construction of ships.

Data as of June 1991

Dis thread realy mks me laf, GHANA ARMY? d joke of W. Africa. Nd u even go as much comparing NIGERIAN ARMY to dat of ghana? Damn! U guys cnt even transport 120 army carpenters n bricklayers to Mali. As we write here, ghana army does nt ave a single BATTLE TANK, ND u r showing us humvees dat were blasted apart wit AKs in Somalia? Take note. NIGERIA have a defense industry DICON, producing APCs, automatic rifles i.e AKs, G3s, FNFALs. HMGs, MMGs, GPMG, helmets, ballistic vests, mortars, RPGs, NVGs(night vision googles) grenades, etc. Every kittn nd weapons u c any nigerian soldier wit is home made including doz n Mali. D Nigerian Navy has made its first War Ship, NNS ANDONI n its on sea doing so well, it waz celebratd internationally, Nigerian Airforce has also made 3 drones(UAVs) Amebo1,2 n 3, Amebo 3 s undergoin more research n improvements as dey all did successful test-flights. Nw to Ghana Special Forces, its so ridiculous, funny, unheard-of nd unprofessional, spec forces world wide dnt carry abt or use heavy weapons i.e Machine guns, RPGs, even rubbing chalks, wit no NVGs, correct bodyarmour(wrng kitting) cux it will hinder flexibility, NNSBS in Nigeria are well kitted, ave several uniforms to suite environment n armed wit Tavor rifles. U Ghanaians shd stp fooling urselves. Bt since u import ur RPGs, Aks, kitts y dnt u gv Nigeria d contract to supply u. Nigeria s 2 far powerful 2 b cmpared 2 u Ghana, its nt new dat Nigerian Millitary Might s mr dan all d W. African countries+ Cameroun n Chad. Do sm research n stp decieving urselves @Ghanaians.

Donian007: Dis thread realy mks me laf, GHANA ARMY? d joke of W. Africa. Nd u even go as much comparing NIGERIAN ARMY to dat of ghana? Damn! U guys cnt even transport 120 army carpenters n bricklayers to Mali. As we write here, ghana army does nt ave a single BATTLE TANK, ND u r showing us humvees dat were blasted apart wit AKs in Somalia? Take note. NIGERIA have a defense industry DICON, producing APCs, automatic rifles i.e AKs, G3s, FNFALs. HMGs, MMGs, GPMG, helmets, ballistic vests, mortars, RPGs, NVGs(night vision googles) grenades, etc. Every kittn nd weapons u c any nigerian soldier wit is home made including doz n Mali. D Nigerian Navy has made its first War Ship, NNS ANDONI n its on sea doing so well, it waz celebratd internationally, Nigerian Airforce has also made 3 drones(UAVs) Amebo1,2 n 3, Amebo 3 s undergoin more research n improvements as dey all did successful test-flights. Nw to Ghana Special Forces, its so ridiculous, funny, unheard-of nd unprofessional, spec forces world wide dnt carry abt or use heavy weapons i.e Machine guns, RPGs, even rubbing chalks, wit no NVGs, correct bodyarmour(wrng kitting) cux it will hinder flexibility, NNSBS in Nigeria are well kitted, ave several uniforms to suite environment n armed wit Tavor rifles. U Ghanaians shd stp fooling urselves. Bt since u import ur RPGs, Aks, kitts y dnt u gv Nigeria d contract to supply u. Nigeria s 2 far powerful 2 b cmpared 2 u Ghana, its nt new dat Nigerian Millitary Might s mr dan all d W. African countries+ Cameroun n Chad. Do sm research n stp decieving urselves @Ghanaians.

i take it you not actualy in the milltary

engerners are not carpenters or brick layers. they perfom a number of highly skilled jobs.

acctually SF unitis do use all those things you menstioned. heavy wepaons used by SF units
105mm reciols rifels
107mm MRLS
60mm through to 120mm
auto canons
anti matrial rifels

most SF units have there own line of vechls and boats. All of them heavly armend

A real SF unit uses what ever is needed. SA SF use what ever rifel is needed. if it is a AK47 then it is a AK47 if it is a M16 then it is a M16. though typicaly they use R4 or R5 since that way they dont stand out.

The thread needs updates

Only lagos will finish ghana. How many are they?

@Andrewza, ure r nt talkn 2 sm1 wit litle millitary awareness, i'm very deep n knwledgeable in world millitary affairs. Jst check out d kitting of d Ghana Special Forces(laughable) kum 2 think of it d only action dey've seen is parading on independence day n election monitoring, probably trying 2 scare u ghanaians, no wonder wen dae showed up d opposition parties n ghana accused d government of tryin 2 use dm 2 intimidate d opposition during elections. Nigerian soldiers dnt monitor elections let aln spec forces. Besydx sm Nigerian n Senegalese army spec forces where battling rebels alng side Mali n Franch as announced by French Defense Ministry during d initial offensives, dey r also doin der CTCOIN stuff up Northern Nigeria, recently NNSBS Commandos took part in Excercise Obangame in Cameroun n 2 Nigerian Ships were deployed u nid 2 c d classic shw of professionalism exibited by NNSBS. Also d no1 partner of Africom in SubSaharan Africa is Nigeria. D NNSBS ave several uniforms 2 suit enviroment, dere original chinese navy type, all black kitting n d new Navy fatigue n d army fatigue der usd 4 Exc. Obangame. D Army also does same, in Jos Plateau der use a light desert sand+brown fatigue, doz in Mali also use a distinguishd desert fatigue whyl CTCOIN troops use a green+light desert sand fatigue. Most countries ave special kittn 4 forces, all we c wit d ghana spec forces r knee pads, chalks, no bdy armour/side arm, wrng kittn. I laf u Cux spec forces r designd for special ops, lyk CQC, infiltration, hostage rescue, house clearance, extraction, etc. Ghana cnt even rival Chad, Guinea, Senegal let aln Nigeria. Any1 tryin to cmpare or assume dat Ghana can equal Nigeria is an IGNORAMUS!

Donian007: @Andrewza, ure r nt talkn 2 sm1 wit litle millitary awareness, i'm very deep n knwledgeable in world millitary affairs. Jst check out d kitting of d Ghana Special Forces(laughable) kum 2 think of it d only action dey've seen is parading on independence day n election monitoring, probably trying 2 scare u ghanaians, no wonder wen dae showed up d opposition parties n ghana accused d government of tryin 2 use dm 2 intimidate d opposition during elections. Nigerian soldiers dnt monitor elections let aln spec forces. Besydx sm Nigerian n Senegalese army spec forces where battling rebels alng side Mali n Franch as announced by French Defense Ministry during d initial offensives, dey r also doin der CTCOIN stuff up Northern Nigeria, recently NNSBS Commandos took part in Excercise Obangame in Cameroun n 2 Nigerian Ships were deployed u nid 2 c d classic shw of professionalism exibited by NNSBS. Also d no1 partner of Africom in SubSaharan Africa is Nigeria. D NNSBS ave several uniforms 2 suit enviroment, dere original chinese navy type, all black kitting n d new Navy fatigue n d army fatigue der usd 4 Exc. Obangame. D Army also does same, in Jos Plateau der use a light desert sand+brown fatigue, doz in Mali also use a distinguishd desert fatigue whyl CTCOIN troops use a green+light desert sand fatigue. Most countries ave special kittn 4 forces, all we c wit d ghana spec forces r knee pads, chalks, no bdy armour/side arm, wrng kittn. I laf u Cux spec forces r designd for special ops, lyk CQC, infiltration, hostage rescue, house clearance, extraction, etc. Ghana cnt even rival Chad, Guinea, Senegal let aln Nigeria. Any1 tryin to cmpare or assume dat Ghana can equal Nigeria is an IGNORAMUS!

I never menstion ghana or there milltary. Just genrial milltary affairs.

Where s Abrantie, i challenge u 2 kum n gv me parametres and facts of real combat action and experience d ghana army does have n nt posting cheap military equipments, an army dat does nt ave a single BATTLE TANK, CHALLENGEABLE ARTILLERY AND MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM(MDS), ure shwing me feeble ratels, humvees dat were reepd apart by AKs in Somalia nd MRLs, wat dn r u goin 2 defend urself with. I REPEAT GHANA ARMY DOES NT AVE A SINGLE BATTLE TANK.

Abrantie its clear you now see that your feeble paradeground+election monitoring macho clowns are no where Nigerias' . Keep shut and stay so forever!

Abrantie its clear you now see that your feeble paradeground+election monitoring macho clowns are no where near Nigerias' . Keep shut and stay so forever!

hahahahahahahahahah ghana army my ass

solomon111: guy shut up.
Your military is the joke of w.africa.
Even chad have a better military.
Have you ever wondered why ghana is not in the rankings of world militaries.?
It is not even rated.

Now that got me cracking... True