₦airaland Forum

Sizzorkay:
Buhari isn't a rebel king. We actually do more to protect our Presidents and give it more prestige. Deby was silly to keep sticking his neck out like that.
To see a country's President bloody and dirty. it's a sad sight.
Hell they should have came up with another story as to how or what killed him. Those rebels just scored big. if they actually killed him.

Isn't it interesting the rebels haven't even come out to say they did which is uncharacteristic of rebel or terrorists groups. They would want to cash in on that publicity and drive the narrative, they didn't yet the press is buying that one sided story of events. This should concentrate minds.

JOSCOFELIX:
the two francophone nation visit buhari in lass than 2-3 week interval and you think something is not wrong. the day Niger republic speak against france after in inauguration they was a coup attempt on him, and you think something is not wrong, the rebel that they say killed debby was a rebel France have sent and giving them assistance in libya and you say something is wrong. from my intel they is a new policy they brought by france which chad, niger and other country rejected(i will not go further) i pray they do not go after niger president

Sounds a lot like conspiracy theories. France appear to lose with Deby's death but it raises a whole lot of questions why didn't they intervene and allow Deby to go to the front if those reports are true, why would they when they could easily halt the advancing rebel column with precision strikes. It might be a game of cards to complicate matters for Abuja in the war or Abuja knows something and would prefer a new leadership in N'djamena. Niger knows its future lies with Nigeria not France a declining power. This whole thing could get some perspective if Nigeria decide it's time to end French hegemony of Francophone West Africa and it can but with a war on its hands it might not be prudent to do so now rather maybe better to employ clandestine means and ECOWAS mechanisms like the Eco currency to achieve those ends. It can also guarantee presidential security for pliant states. That is one way to weed these states off France.

SamuelAnyawu:
It’s too risky attending. Has Buhari visited any deep field location in Borno state?

Yes the combat theater of Borno generally is a risky place as troops conduct CT/COIN operations but I think if the President of Nigeria wants to visit he will visit but at an enormous cost of moving men and materials in place. He has visited Maiduguri. So was Jonathan before.

About N'djamena I think there's more than meets the eye and it's not about security but President Buhari's absence is symbolic to say the least and does not match his eulogy of Idris Deby Itno who committed his troops to the Boko haram war.

Nigeria beefs up border to avoid Chadian influx – defence minister

Nigeria has reinforced its border security to avoid a potential influx of Chadians following the death of Chad’s leader Idriss Deby, the defence minister said on Thursday.

Deby was killed on Monday in a battle against rebels who had invaded from the north, plunging the country into turmoil.

“When we heard of the death of the Chadian president…the government took action immediately. We beefed up security on our borders with Chad, not to allow the influx of Chadian refugees into Nigeria,” said Bashir Salihi Magashi, a retired army major general.


Only Nigerians from Chad would be allowed into the country, he told reporters in the capital Abuja.

Nigeria is trying to deal with its own problems.

It is battling with mass kidnapping and killings linked to a decade-long Islamist insurgency in the northern part of the country that has displaced thousands of people in recent years.

“We are on top of the situation and we believe that African countries and international organizations will soon come together to find solutions to the problem in Chad as expected of them.”

Deby’s son has taken over as president and the armed forces commander and dissolved the government and parliament as rebel forces threaten to march on the capital.
https://www.defenceweb.co.za/security/border-security/nigeria-beefs-up-border-to-avoid-chadian-influx-defence-minister/

Inset: Rugged Nigerian Army Combat Troops

Another poignant question in the Chad controversy or conspiracies depending on which side of the divide you kowtow is why was President Buhari not present at Deby's Funeral in N'djamena. I like slam dunk intelligence though rare they don't come prepared on the table you sometimes find them hiding in plain sight.

"Someone may have gotten tired of someone"

Inset: Nigerian Navy Anticipated Landing Ship Tank. A major platform for power projection.

Anyone notice Nigeria's current defense minister is a hands on approach serious minded official. Watching the trends I haven't seen in a while a defense minister quite like him in Nigeria's recent history. I mean this guy is on the ground leading from the front with the Service Chiefs. There's more I could add but suffice it to say the defense minister bid his time with the former Service Chiefs, had enough and recommended his team to the President got them approved and now working in synergy with the NSA. The winner here if things pan out according to plan is Nigeria but moreso the current National Security Adviser. He didn't exactly see eye to eye with the former Service Chiefs hampering efforts to win the war.

Inset: Nigerian Air Force 4+ generation JF-17 Thunder Multi-role Fighter Jet seen in flight

The question no one is asking is what was Marshall Idris Deby Itno doing in Abuja a little over a fortnight ago and then killed shortly after under murky circumstances depending on which version of events you believe. Whose interests?

Inset: Nigerian Army New VT-4 Main Battle Tank

bidexiii:
Visit of a high powered Portuguese Navy delegation to NNS LANA berthed at the Port of Lisbon Portugal

When you are doing the right things it brings you the respect you deserve. NNS Lana is a beauty.

LTGEN:
Confirmed .
Now focus will be on Country of Manufacture and type of Frigate.

Something for the lobbyists and planners to chew on. Not just a platform primarily for one mission but for the full spectrum of naval warfare. Focus should also be on a modular design to accommodate for the changing times.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1rg3Qa3FpU

In modern times the transforming of a country into a great power has traditionally coincided with the development of a powerful navy. The prestige associated with the Battleship led many countries to invest huge amounts of money into weapons platforms that they neither needed or in many cases could afford. A very good documentary series on the history of the platform can be found here. What made the acquisition of these weapons so attractive was that they were seen as an expression of national power.

In much the same way, nuclear weapons, nuclear submarines and aircraft carries now act as expressions of national power. It need not matter how old the carrier, the possession carrier is seen as mark that a state is important, that it is formidable and needs to be taken seriously; at least by those states that want to acquire them. As a result, states with little or no desire to project power, can end up fielding expensive carries and nuclear submarines.
Culled from Prestige And Naval Power

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pU5jlUKrvEs
NNS Thunder Departing Sydney Australia

In modern times the transforming of a country into a great power has traditionally coincided with the development of a powerful navy. The prestige associated with the Battleship led many countries to invest huge amounts of money into weapons platforms that they neither needed or in many cases could afford. A very good documentary series on the history of the platform can be found here. What made the acquisition of these weapons so attractive was that they were seen as an expression of national power.

In much the same way, nuclear weapons, nuclear submarines and aircraft carries now act as expressions of national power. It need not matter how old the carrier, the possession carrier is seen as mark that a state is important, that it is formidable and needs to be taken seriously; at least by those states that want to acquire them. As a result, states with little or no desire to project power, can end up fielding expensive carries and nuclear submarines.
Culled from Prestige And Naval Power

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pU5jlUKrvEs
NNS Thunder Departing Sydney Australia

ugo4u:
lol

Hypocrites not unexpected. Given the circumstances even powerful African nations are lining up for stability. We face a mortal enemy up north and dealing with the devil maybe one of the few options. Though I don't see a long term future for the younger Déby Itno in N'djamena.

bidexiii:
Cant for a new frigate to replace NNS Aradu.

Guess u mean can't wait. You bet can't wait either not least for the prestige it brings too. And since the idea is to replace Aradu as flagship it can't come with anything less of the full complement of armaments for all spectrum of advanced Naval warfare. Whatever comes should have cruise missiles to shut down any doubter in the region.

Anticipated induction of new frigate to enhance the war fighting capability of the Nigerian Navy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cUMrmlc240

Anticipated induction of new frigate to enhance the war fighting capability of the Nigerian Navy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cUMrmlc240

Yagz:
Ogas Odunayaw and Luker4Long- I hail you. Confirmed Yagz and Yagazie are one and the same person. No imposter- lol!

My brother Covert 1, I concede that you do make some very valid and solid points on the present state of the Nigerian Navy and it's recapitalization programme and agree with most of what you say.

To recap:

[[b]i]''It is an aberration to say Nigeria has no Navy but a Coast Guard. Nigeria does have a viable Navy the largest in West Africa by number of ships, tonnage and personnel with more importantly increased hours at sea and the necessary assets for contemporary threats which reflects positively on its leadership, capacity building, priorities, planning and manpower resources.

It should be accurate to say the Nigerian Navy begun a recapitalization programme from inside out rather than from outside in. Having missile Frigates or submarines is prestigious but it is not exactly what defines a Navy. The Nigerian Navy is following apace on its modernization programme with available resources at its disposal and doing so in my estimation decently with recent acquisitions of modern vessels in their class and if the trend continues will have the [assets in place to put it in an enviable position in sub-saharan Africa something Senegal with its potential FACs can't match and don't have the resources to do so.

Contrast this with the South African Navy which without capacity went for prestigious Valour Frigates without ASW capabilities and Subs without the necessary skilled set leaving you a near moribund Navy more in port than at sea. The South African Navy is now following on the heels of Nigeria's acquisition choices though not too decently whilst the Nigerian Navy is on course for the attainment of its geo-strategic and national security imperatives in the Gulf of Guinea.''[/i][/b]

However, that said, in my humble opinion, the main purpose of having a navy is to ensure the protection of a Country's maritime domain/EEZ and project power within it's sphere/area of influence.

(1)- Firstly let me begin by paying tribute to the brave officers and ratings (men/women) of the Nigerian Navy. They are a bunch of brave professional operatives doing a great and hazardous job in very challenging circumstances.

(2) - The Piracy situation in the Gulf of Guinea is currently spiraling out of control. The majority of these attacks occur in Nigeria's territorital waters especially between Brass and Bonny and are undertaken by pirates operating out of Nigeria. The Nigerian navy (with all it's numerous inshore Patrol Craft of different variants)- has so far been unable to stem the tide. KUDOS however to our elite Special Boat Service (SBS) personnel for the great work they are doing.

(3)- The pirates are now becoming emboldened to the extent that they can now undertake attacks on ships situated up to 200 nautical miles off Nigeria's coast. This is where the need for well armed long range OPVs (in sufficient numbers) come in. It is now so bad that Denmark (a country of about 4-5 million people) will soon be sending a Frigate to the Gulf of Guinea to protect it's merchant vessels transisting the GoG. Note - they are sending a Frigate, not an OPV.

(4)- Hopefully with NIMASA's much vaunted Intergrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure programme aka 'Maritime Deep Blue Project', Nigeria should soon be better able to police it's maritime domain- if the political will exists to allow this project take off and the project is implemented in it's entirety.

(5) - Whilst I agree that the Nigerian Navy is following apace on it's mordenisation programme, from 'inside - out' as opposed to 'outside - in' - the brutal truth is that 'to whom much is given, much is expected'. In the West African sub-region, Nigeria (by virute of its economic clout and vast pool of trained /skilled human resources), has no peer- and I say this with all sense of respect to our fellow West African brethren.

(6)- Thus Nigeria should thus be comparing itself to it's 'peers' on the African Continent, namely Egypt, Algeria, Morroco and South Africa and consequently at the same time as purchasing in-shore patrol craft and OPVs, we should also be purchasing Frigates and Corvettes- both with helicopters equipped for ASW, missile capable FACs, LPDs and most importantly fleet replenishment vessels - to support our ships on extended deplyments at sea. Unlike what obtains with Morrocco, Egypt, Algeria or South Africa, can you recall the last time that a Western (i.e. American, French, German, Italian, British, Dutch or Spanish) naval power or indeed the Chinese navy conducted real naval excercises with the Nigerian navy? Please I am not talking of the annual OBANGAME EXPRESS where Western navies send 'token' vessels to have 'exercises' with a motely collection of vessels from West African navies.

(7)- This is all the more cogent because Nigeria has in the past had/operated missile capable FAC, Corvettes, ASW helicopters (Lynx MK1) and a General Purpose Frigate- in effect real capital naval platforms that were all manned by capable Nigerian officers and ratings. It was simply mismanagement/corruption and years of millitary rule that degraded our capacity to maintain same. Thus the comparison with South Africa is not really appropriate as we have always had competent personnel to man our Frigates, Corvettes and Fast Attack Craft. Recall that NNS Aradu and before that one of our corvettes (NNS Dorina?) had undertaken Atlantic crossings on good will visits to Brazil in South America.

(- South Africa purchased Four Meko 200 'Valour Class' frigates and 3 Type 209 submarines in the early 1990's. The truth is that South Africa had the capability to maintain and operate these vessels but because of 'BEE' (i.e. black empowerement ) issues the capable 'white' officers and men who could have operated these vessels pending the gradual training of black personnel, where eased out of the navy. Recall that during the 'Apparthied' era, the South African Navy operated submarines and Frigates. Thus in my humble opinion, South Africa's problems as far as the operations/ maintenance of their capital platforms are concerned, are self-inflicted.

(9)- Our OPVs are not capable of undertaking aerial or underwater warfare as they not equipped for same. They have no surface to air missiles capability nor do they have towed array sonar or mines/depth charges for sub-surface operations. The embarked helicopters - AW109s are not equipped for anti-submarine operations. The main armament - 76mm naval gun could engage surface targets, but would have difficulty coming up against a missle armed vessel.

(10)- Thus I am still respectfully of the view that the Nigerian Navy in it's current state has attained the status of a reasonably well equipped Coast Guard service and with the incoming Hydrographic Vessel - NNS Lana and Damen 100 LST being built in the UAE etc may well be on it's way to reclaiming it's former glory as a true 'blue water' navy that it once was.

Excellent view points. We agree on the salient points. However I respectfully disagree that the "Nigerian Navy in its current status is a well equipped Coast Guard service". The Navy's recapitalization programme is well within it's short, medium and long term acquisition goals. However in its current state it possesses an array of advanced vessels and assets for maritime operations short of missile armed boats. I'll be brief as we tend to agree beyond matters of designation. Aerial warfare is not conducted alone or possible only by surface to air missiles and sonar is one aspect of underwater warfare. When I have time I'll put up I hope enough open source information to support this analysis. The stealth features of the NN P18Ns afford it some significant advantages in combat and the ability to approach within effective range of its precision guns. Denmark is a maritime country and it is only practical for it to deploy a frigate class ship at such distance something the Nigerian Navy has also excelled at with port visits to Australia with its Frigate class of ship NNS Thunder albeit without the missiles. All said Nigeria is on track to meet expectations and yes you are right the South African Navy and in general its military wounds are self inflicted with low level skilled officer cadre. The SADF was a pride to watch.

I'll make further submissions but we look forward to Nigeria acting its size on the world stage.

JOSCOFELIX:
NNS unity and NNS century have missile capacity stop believing media all the time

Yes and No. You use languages that confuse them. Most here won't comprehend capacity or the difference with that and capability. I go this length to say that because it is you. You love your country but most people here don't take too kindly that it is a plausible reality for Nigeria.

But they are stealth, capable of surface, air and underwater warfare and can be quickly retrofitted with missiles in a high intensity conflict with a peer Naval power. However we are not going to be chasing pirates with expensive to maintain frigates on a lean budget. The P18Ns are very adequate and great assets. Actually OPVs are the darling of Navies worldwide and we have them.

LTGEN:
They still should of built the UNITY AND CENTENARY with MISSILE capability regardless .The premise that Nigeria procures stuff piecemeal is accurate . it does not detract from the fact they want to buy a frigate

Everybody would love to see more prestigious ships in numbers but there is not the political will in Nigeria. When you have a political class or a president in the mould of Shehu Shagari then possibly but right now it is not feasible. If you were to be a defense planner you would act based on what you are given based on the threat envelope you face factoring costs overheads which explains lack of missile ships presently. Yes, the proposed frigate is a plus either way.

Yagz:
Why does the Nigerian Govt like buying capital millitary platforms peicemeal and in insufficient numbers?

Case in point - South Africa bought 4 Meko Valour Class frigates and 3 Type 209 submarines in one transaction. Egypt is buying FREMM Frigates and Mistral LPDs for fun ..not to talk of Gorwind and Meko Class corvettes. Algeria buys MEKO Class Valour frigates from Germany and corvettes from China in substantial numbers.

Nigeria is making noise over a sole destroyer as it's replacement Flagship? Haba!

There are 3 operational naval commands (Western, Eastern and Central). The Nigerian Navy should be given the funds to purchase at least 6 well armed OPVs (with missile capabilites), 3 Meko 200 'Valour' Class frigates with similar armaments as those purchased by Algeria and at least 2 Type 52D frigates from China.

Let's be absolutely clear- Nigeria currently has no navy, just a well equipped Coast Guard with a number of in-shore patrol craft (Shaldags, and OCEA PF72 patrol boats etc).

The hand-me-down Hamlilton Class ex -Us Coastgaurd long patrol vessels - NNS Thunder and NNS Okpbana, have no missile or ASW /ASuW capabilities whatseover. The OPVs purchased from China - NNS Century and NNS Unity have no missile, ASW or AsuW capabilies either- and these are supposed to be our capital ships NNS Aradu (our current Flag ship) for all intents and purposes has been reduced to a training vessel with all it's missile capabilites removed. The newly acquired NNS Lana is a Hydrographic Survey Vessel and is not armed.

Senegal is currently in the process of building naval vessels in France will soon (by 2022) have FACs with missile capabilites and thus become the only navy in West Africa with such vessels...and the Nigerian Navy ..sorry Coast Guard will then be caught napping!

It is an aberration to say Nigeria has no Navy but a Coast Guard. Nigeria does have a viable Navy the largest in West Africa by number of ships, tonnage and personnel with more importantly increased hours at sea and the necessary assets for contemporary threats which reflects positively on its leadership, capacity building, priorities, planning and manpower resources.

It should be accurate to say the Nigerian Navy begun a recapitalization programme from inside out rather than from outside in. Having missile frigates or submarines is prestigious but it is not exactly what defines a Navy. The Nigerian Navy is following apace on its modernization programme with available resources at its disposal and doing so in my estimation decently with recent acquisitions of modern vessels in their class and if the trend continues will have the assets in place to put it in an enviable position in sub-saharan Africa something Senegal with its potential FACs can't match and don't have the resources to do so.

Contrast this with the South African Navy which without capacity went for prestigious valour frigates without ASW capabilities and subs without the necessary skilled set leaving you a near moribund Navy more in port than at sea. The South African Navy is now following on the heels of Nigeria's acquisition choices though not too decently whilst the Nigerian Navy is on course for the attainment of its geo-strategic and national security imperatives in the Gulf of Guinea.

The P18Ns are modern OPVs capable of surface, air and underwater warfare. They have more tonnage than those of Bangladesh. If the Nigerian Navy wanted missiles on them they would but that would mean more costs for maintenance and other factors quite unnecessary for the tasks they are meant. The OPVs are part of the medium term acquisition goals of Nigerian Navy planners.

Patrols and been at sea are more of importance to a Navy than prestige assets docked in port without the resources to engage them. As for the North Africans they have a different threat envelope and are arming accordingly.

With all the challenges in Nigeria the Armed Forces is still doing well carrying on with its strategic modernization plans and is now the recipient and destination of the largest foreign and local weapons acquisitions programme in sub-saharan Africa since the latter years of GEJ and continously under GMB. Congratulations to the Nigerian Navy for acquiring this brand new beautiful hydrographic vessel. It truly deserves accolades. A Landing Ship Tank is also on the way giving the Navy a strategic Sea Lift and power projection capabilities. Fair Winds NN.

JOSCOFELIX:
we can overrun gudzamala but the military mission planner have to plan for the mission so that what occurred in the first mission will not occurred again

Military planners always plan especially as threats evolve. We can't buy the bait of ISWAP.
I did say earlier ISWAP would do something specifically with Damasak to grab the headlines and they did. The one surprising thing and this might be a shock is I expected them to try harder enough. It is not in their psyche to quit until something gives. Their challenge so far is the presence of the dogged Nigerian Army Super Camp and their commanding officer a Brigadier General with the confident military swag who appearing on camera in the town psychologically defeats every repeated ISWAP onslaught. ISWAP must be surprised at the turn of events but I won't put it past them to attempt another wave maybe elsewhere. Watch out for infiltration of moles.

Valkrie:
We all hope the war ends quickly but the way it's going even with 20 tucanos we would still be doing owanbe in the war and going in circle...!!

The A-29 Super Tucanos will make a difference. That is if you get them I must add. I'm not sure any military expert can put a timeline any longer on this war based on purely military means alone. There appears to be sinister forces beyond the control of the Nigerian state. To put a definitive stop to all forms of terrorism in Nigeria, Abuja would have to mobilize all of Nigeria's national industrial power base to move the war to the corner of a certain impoverished African country and there contain the menace of the islamafascists terrorists until snuffed out.

Beautiful Boat

Stormtrooper11:
I am not saying i am the all knowing, but there is something many of us don't understand about war. In war, you don't capture everywhere. You capture your enemy centre of gravity. This is a doctrine stressed by Prussian General Claustwitz. During the Nigerian civil war, everyone thought that Enugu was the Biafran center of gravity because it was the seat of power. When we captured it, the Biafrans simply changed capitals. But all the while it was uli-ihiala. Why? It was the most vital to them. It was their only communication to the world because of the airstrip after Nigeria’s naval blockade. When Brigadier alabi isama and general akinirinade made the pincer strategies and plans in 1968,we identified uli-ihiala as the center of gravity. After the plan was implemented in 1969,we captured it and won the war. We need to identify Iswap's center of gravity and get hold on it. We need to get there. Lest we go on in circles

We are since past the stage of centre of gravity in this war. That had already been done under GEJ. Any said space of non-state actors is fluid meaning it is untenable for the enemy and they know it. If any centre of gravity exists it must be beyond our shores. To undertake certain military tasks you need certain assets in place else you might just be fishing for the moon in the water.

Sizzorkay:
that write up gave me a chuckle.
Enemy holding territory on home soil, constantly taking the fight to our troops. something is wrong somewhere. if only we have the mentality of the Israelis, these sort of nonsense wouldn't have happened. by now all of bh would have died eating something laced with poison
Those guys don't joke with anything that threatens their security

Quite simplistic, ISWAP are skilled fighters willing to die and know the antics of war followed on the heels by BHTs. Everything in the book of CT/COIN has been tried on these rampaging islamafascists terrorists including snakes but they have proven adaptive and innovative. Fighting them on their terms is suicide which is one of their modus operandi. To defeat this mortal enemy you must be creative & do the unthinkable in the art of war.

The Nigerian military as a modern, professional and superior fighting force should be choosing the place and timing of well planned combat not the terrorists hence you keep playing into their hands and expending precious men and material.

This is significant for Naval operations. The NN is modernizing from inside out very important owing to our complex creeks and waterways and then the Gulf of Guinea which should lead to the next phase of a full fledged Blue Water Navy with sea going missile Frigates and deadly quiet submarines. The NN must be commended for having increased its presence at sea more than any other Navy in sub-saharan Africa and that by far. The coast guard version of Nigeria NIMASA is also upping the ante with modern acquisitions.

NIGERIAN NAVY TAKES DELIVERY OF NEW OFFSHORE SURVEY VESSEL NNS LANA

The Nigerian Navy today in Saint Nazaire, France took delivery of its first ever purpose built Offshore Survey Vessel, NNS LANA. Speaking at the Flag Transfer Ceremony, the Honourable Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (rtd), represented by the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo stated that the new vessel was conceived as a replacement to the previous NNS LANA, a survey ship that was decommissioned about 10 years ago. Major General Magashi (rtd) who was the Special Guest of Honour at the event added that the occasion marked a great milestone in the fulfilment of the dream of not only replacing but, enhancing Nigerian Navy’s survey capability. Importantly, the new vessel is expected to fill the void created following the decommissioning of the previous NNS LANA.

Highlighting the import of having a survey vessel like NNS LANA, the Special Guest of Honour said that survey services and charting waterways play a crucial role in ensuring safe navigation as well as delivery of maritime security. Hence, NNS LANA will not only enhance the safety of Nigeria’s maritime environment but the ship will serve as a critical component in the projection of naval power for enhanced maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea. It will also play a critical role in protection of maritime resources and preservation of law and order at sea, thus contributing significantly to promotion of global maritime commerce. He therefore specially thanked the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment towards the recapitalization of the Nigerian Navy Fleet. The Honourable Minister also thanked Nigeria’s Ambassador to France, Her Excellency Dr (Mrs) Modupe Irele, the management and staff of Messrs OCEA and all others who have contributed one way or the other towards the change of Flag Ceremony. Again, he congratulated the Commanding Officer, Captain AB Mahmud and his ships’ company as the pioneer crew of the brand new masterpiece as she begins her voyage into the seas.

Further speaking at the event, the Honourable Minister explained that the choice of Messrs OCEA by the Nigerian Navy to construct the new NNS LANA was based on its impeccable track record of high quality ship building capacity as well as the belief in the Company to adhere to agreed time lines. Suffice to state that the construction of LANA by Messrs OCEA is much more significant bearing in mind that this has been achieved despite the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, Major General Magashi (rtd) congratulated Messrs OCEA for this feat. He equally noted with delight that the acquisition of NNS LANA brings to 18 the number of OCEA platforms in the Nigerian Navy’s inventory and also the Company was recently awarded the contract to construct a 35m Hydro boat to complement NNS LANA.

Notably, the construction of the Offshore Survey Vessel 190 MKII (NNS LANA) commenced in December 2019 and the project was divided into 4 major milestones which were: the completion of the deck molds, completion of hull blocks, hull assembly on the main deck and the delivery and installation of the main engines at the shipyard. These milestones were the benchmarks which determined the level of work achieved at each stage of the project. The building process was successfully completed and the Ship was launched on 24 September 2020 at Les Sables d’Olonne, France. The new Ship with a visual call sign A499 was named NNS LANA apparently conceived as a rebirth of the former Nigerian Navy Ship LANA (A498) which was decommissioned.

The new NNS LANA (A499) is designed and purposely built to enable the NN conduct hydrographic and oceanographic surveys. It is also capable of conducting geophysical studies, search and rescue operations as well as patrol duties. The Ship is equipped with state-of-the-art modern survey equipment as well as a well-equipped 7.6m surface vehicle for shallow water surveys.

Furthermore, the Ship has an Automatic Weather Station (AWS), wet and dry laboratories, scientific and technical workshops as well as operating and processing rooms for survey data. The machineries include 2 x MTU engines, 3 x CAT main generators/one emergency generator, electric propulsion system and other auxiliaries. The electric propulsion which is operated at survey speed is particularly installed to minimize distortion of data due to machinery noise. The Ship has a maximum speed of 14 knots and a capacity of 50 crew.

NNS LANA was handed over to the Nigerian Navy in France on 15 January 2021 after the provisional acceptance trials was concluded. The crew training commenced in January 2021 and ended on 12 April 2021. The change of flag ceremony marks her readiness to embark on her maiden homebound voyage to Nigeria. Expectedly, NNS LANA would join the Nigerian Navy Fleet in May 2021. It is envisaged that the rebirth of NNS LANA would afford the Nigerian Navy Hydrographic Department the leverage to successfully and systematically conduct hydrographic surveys and charting of Nigeria’s waters. It would also afford Nigeria with the opportunity of keying into the General Bathymetric Charts of the Oceans (GEBCO) Seabed 2030 project and the Global Multi-Resolution Topography (GMRT) synthesis project which would ultimately facilitate Nigeria’s accomplishment of its obligation under SOLAS Convention in accordance with President Muhammadu Buhari’s deliberate and sustained policies on maritime safety and security.

Dignitaries at the event included the Nigerian Ambassador to France, Dr Modupe Irele, the representative of the French Navy, Vice Admiral Oliver Le bas and the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, who represented the Honourable Minister of Defence. Others were the CEO OCEA, Mr Roland Joassard and representative of the Ministry of Defence, Major General Benson Akinroluyo.

Sitrep Damasak

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyi8YV-bwM4

Whyem15:
I asked you earlier to mention any country that has defeated ideological armed groups with the use of force alone in the last 30 years. If we are still battling terrorists and armed groups in this country, it is the fault of governments at all levels. The military has done their part in most of the crises and they are not expected to play the non-kinetic part. The only other thing the military can do regarding ISWAP and JAS is to push them temporarily into other countries and I'm very sure those countries won't just watch you do that.

Something I had said a long time ago which makes strategic sense at least for some time. Export the war elsewhere, this is what big powers do. The US is comfortable with terrorists running amok everywhere except on the homeland. Nigeria has managed to push the war to the fringes of Borno and the Lake Chad islands, there they can be cannon fodders for the Army. President Jonathan was comfortable with that knowing the enormity of the enemy in BHT we are fighting and succeeded in getting them out of Abuja and much of the North. If we won't talk to moderate elements of BHT at this stage of the war they've been severely degraded then bring the big guns out or work to completely export the war totally out of Nigerian territory.

Sizzorkay:
That was the response i was talking about. Now i hope savanah reporters or whatever the fvk they are called, publish this

Sahara reporters is a propagandist outlet, discard

Sizzorkay:
Was the bolded sarcasm?or you are actually being serious

Yes, literally not sarcasm. Their works speak for them. Perfomance is the right yardstick to judge any military not paper tigers who buckle under pressure. The plethora of conflicts in modern times resolved by the Nigerian military both home and abroad through the use of force and military diplomacy is unsurpassed in Africa.

DubaiLandLord:
On what basis are you saying the Nigerian army is the best in Africa? The same army that have been struggling against Boko Haram and ISWAP for years? People are still in IDP camps in Borno state.

BHT terrorists and ISWAP that was declared the most deadly terrorist groups anywhere in the world. What the Nigerian military accomplished against them within its means has been acknowledged by every military expert as extraordinary even the United States intelligentsia except of course naysayers and haters on Nairaland. Bokos come to die not to fight.

EricBraven:
The attention of the Defence Headquarters is drawn to numerous publications in the media and other online blogs reporting massive killing and destruction of houses and other property by the military in Konshisha LGA of Benue State. The Defence Headquarters which has oversight responsibility for Operation WHIRL STROKE deployed to maintain peace in Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba States, has deemed it necessary to refute these spurious allegations and put the records straight.

There have been incessant cases of communal clashes in recent times between the people of Konshisha and Oju over boundary demarcation. As part of efforts to resolve the crisis, the Benue State Government held series of meetings with stakeholders from both local governments with a view to arriving at amicable solution to the problem. Appreciable progress has been made and a final date fixed for all stakeholders to meet in the disputed areas to fully demarcate the boundary so that peace could reign. Trouble however started on the eve of the final meeting during Easter holiday, with reports that fresh fighting has broken out in the area.

All along, 72 Special Forces Battalion has troops deployed on the Oju side of the boundary and troops of the Battalion were on their way to replenish their colleagues on 5 April 2021, when they were attacked by armed bandits at Bonta in Konshisha. The troops who were under command of a Captain were seized at a checkpoint mounted by the so called “Bonta Boys” and taken into Konshisha forest where they were all brutally murdered. Not satisfied with killing the soldiers, the bandits proceeded to burn all the eleven soldiers and their officer beyond recognition while their weapons and ammunition were carted away. Military reinforcements were dispatched to Bonta the following morning. Unfortunately, the reinforcement also came under attack from close to 500 armed youths who by this time had fully occupied Bonta. The sheer number of youths involved in the attacks suggests that the armed bandits cannot be from Bonta alone, but were joined by bandits from other parts of Konshisha LGA. The military repelled the attack after more than 4 hours of intense fighting during which military helicopter provided close air support to ground troops. Ten armed bandits were killed during the fight with the rifle of one of the Killed in action soldiers recovered from the bandits who fell casualty during the exchange of fire.

The Defence Headquarters wish to put it on record that apart from this initial 10 bandits, there are no other civilian casualties recorded in any part of Konshisha till date. We therefore challenge anybody from Konshisha to present to the public the 200, 70 or 30 dead bodies of innocent persons, male, female or children killed by troops in Konshisha. There was never a massacre as being touted by some mischief makers.

The remnants of the armed bandits that escaped from Bonta withdrew into neighbouring villages where they kept on attacking troops as they continued with the search operation through Bonta into other parts of Konshisha. Knowing the implications of killing troops in cold blood, most of the villagers fled their homes which were then occupied by armed bandits who kept firing at troops from the settlements as they advanced into Konshisha. Troops repelled the attacks and destroyed the houses and other buildings which the criminals used as hideout for the attacks. The use of abandoned settlements by armed bandits to attack troops is popular with insurgents. The aim is to draw military fire into the dwellings and then turn round to blame soldiers for the destruction. This is common guerilla tactics armed bandit designed to whip up public sentiment against security forces and this is what played out in Konshisha. This accounts for some of the burnt houses being reported in the press. Some of the phones of the dead soldiers were also tracked to some of the settlements. We should therefore blame the armed bandits for the destruction since they used these settlements as hideout for attacks. It will be wrong to blame soldiers who are in Konshisha on legitimate duties when some of them were murdered in cold blood. Some of the buildings being paraded today were actually burnt during earlier communal clashes between Konshisha and Oju, all of which the sponsors of the mayhem are now blaming on the military.

Finally, the Defence Headquarters wishes to state that soldiers deployed to Konshisha displayed commendable restraints by adhering to the rules of engagement in the face of unprovoked attacks and therefore deserve accolades. In addition to the return of all carted away weapons, the local leaders of Konshisha must bring the main actors responsible for the mayhem to security forces to face justice. They must also surrender all other weapons in their possession. The military will not tolerate the jungle justice attitude and dastardly acts leading to the gruesome murder of patriotic soldiers on legitimate duty to keep the peace. We look forward to working with the Benue State Government in its promise to support security forces in fishing out those fomenting trouble in Konshisha. Once again, there is no massacre in Konshisha and the stories making the rounds are fabricated by bandits and their sponsors to smear the military after murdering troops in cold blood.

ONYEMA NWACHUKWU

Brigadier General

Acting Director Defence Information

9 April 2021

Bravo