Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle has issued a strong warning to maritime criminals, stating that Nigeria will no longer be a safe avenue for maritime crime.

The declaration comes as the Nigerian Navy commissioned a new fleet of advanced ships and helicopters to enhance security and promote economic activities along the nation’s coast.

At the induction ceremony in Lagos, Matawalle noted that the federal government is serious about securing Nigeria’s maritime domain. He noted that commissioning is a critical addition to improving the capability of the Navy to monitor, deter, and respond to threats at sea.

“The new platforms demonstrate the will of President Bola Tinubu to protect national interest and enhance economic prosperity under the Renewed Hope agenda,” he noted.

Matawalle said the operational vessels and aircraft come with more advanced surveillance technologies, as well as rapid response capabilities, which will “allow our Navy to dominate Nigeria’s territorial waters and limit criminal activity.

Some of the new capabilities include long range helicopters capable of continuous surveillance for extended periods of time, which will complement the service’s existing platforms for the purpose of monitoring.

Matawalle termed the new fleet renewal and operational capability enhancement, calling it a significant milestone during the Nigerian Navy’s 69th anniversary celebrations.

He went on to inform that, from international partners, more naval platforms would be arriving later this year to build on the Navy’s capacity to conduct patrols of offshore waters and also safeguard critical national assets; and that, these additional platforms will substantially enhance the Navy’s operational capability and by extension overall national security.

Aside from acquiring new capability in hardware, the Ministry of Defence is also prioritising human capital development. In addition to planning for technical training enhancement so personnel can effectively operate and maintain new capability, they are also improving on morale and welfare activities to keep personnel motivated and on mission.

Matawalle closed by warning thieves, pirates and other maritime criminals within Nigerian waters to keep off and reiterated that the country’s naval forces are now capable of enforcing maritime law more than ever before to protect Nigeria’s economic resource.