Maritime security: Jonathan pledges more equipment to Navy

LOKOJA—President Goodluck Jonathan has pledged to
support the Nigerian Navy with more equipment to
effectively secure the nation’s maritime environment.
Jonathan spoke yesterday at Lokoja, the Kogi State
capital during the on-going 2014 Chief of Naval Staff
Annual Conference, CONSAC.
He said the Economic Community of West African
States, ECOWAS, was working with the Federal
Government towards securing the Exclusive Economic
zone in their region.
Jonathan, who was represented by the Permanent
Secretary Ministry of Defence, Alhaji Aliyu Ismaila
Numan revealed that the nation’s maritime interests
were threatened by various forms of insecurity,
especially piracy, illegal bunkering and crude oil theft,
illegal fishing and proliferation of small arms.
According to him, “Efforts will be made at equipping
the Nigerian Navy to enable it meet with global best
practices, global strategic contest, technological
advancement in line with current global security
challenges, so as to assist in our administration’s
transformation agenda.
“Apart from our porous borders, the Nigeria maritime
environment present another avenue for terrorists in the
execution of their plans.”