First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has inaugurated the second 76-metre High Endurance Offshore Patrol Vessel, built for the Nigerian Navy by a Turkish shipbuilder, DEARSAN Shipyard.

Tinubu launched the vessel in Istanbul, Turkey, on Friday, April 19, 2024.

The Director of Naval Information, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, who made this known via a statement on Friday, said the launch of the vessel marked a significant milestone in Nigeria’s commitment to safeguarding her territorial waters and combating maritime threats.

Adams-Aliu recalled that the first OPV built by DEARSAN Shipyard was launched on October 26, 2023, and was graced by the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla; Charge D’Affair Nigerian Embassy Turkey, Ambassador Zayyad Habu Abdulsalam, and other dignitaries.

He quoted Ogalla as saying that the construction of the two OPVs commenced at the DEARSAN Shipyard in Turkey in 2022.

Ogalla said: “DEARSAN Shipyard is constructing two OPVs for the Nigerian Navy and the first OPV was launched here on October 26, 2023.

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“I am particularly pleased that the milestones on the vessel construction have been met and I hereby appreciate the management of DEARSAN Shipyard for their efforts so far.”

He further listed the general specifications of the vessel to include 76.90m length, 11.90m width, 3.60m draught, 28knots speed, propulsion System – Combined Diesel and Diesel (CODAD), 2,500nm range, 16 days endurance, and 47 crew capacity.

The navy boss added: “The construction of the vessel will boost Nigerian Navy fleet renewal efforts for fulfilment of her constitutional mandate.

“It will ensure maximum presence at sea to curb illicit acts such as oil theft, piracy, sea robbery, illegal fishery as well as smuggling of Small Arms and Light Weapons among other crimes in the vast 84,000 sqm of Nigeria’s maritime environment.

“It will also facilitate harnessing the enormous potentials within Nigeria’s maritime domain in support of FG’s Blue Economy initiatives.

Ogalla, however, expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his support towards ensuring the completion of the construction of the OPVs and his commitment to Nigerian Navy fleet renewal aspirations.

He also lauded the First Lady for accepting the invitation to perform the age-long naval tradition of launching a ship into water for the first time, a role often reserved for female leaders.

The Star