26th August, 2014
The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin, has said that the Nigerian Navy would participate in the 21st edition of the International Sea Power Symposium.
The event is scheduled for Rhode Island, USA, in September, this year. This was contained in a statement issued in Abuja by Commodore Kabir Aliyu, Director of Naval Information.
The statement said that the CNS indicated this when he received the new US Naval Attaché to Nigeria, Commander Rene Laverde, in his office.
It said that Jibrin acknowledged the legendary support of the US over the years. The statement said that the CNS also called for more assistance in the area of surveillance and amphious capabilities to enhance the Navy’s overall operational efficiency in the Gulf of Guinea.
“He said that as the most formidable Navy in the West Africa sub-region, Nigeria hopes to improve on its platforms base to areas with most comparative advantage.”
It said that Laverde expressed the willingness of the US Government to assist the Nigerian Navy improve on its platforms base in view of its increasing leadership role in the sub-region.
It added that Laverde assured the CNS of United States’ support and commitment to the security of the Gulf of Guinea in particular and Africa in general, which Nigeria spearhead.