Enhanced Security: Nigerian Navy, NASENI Sign MoU on ‘Collaborative Engagements’
It is with great delight that I wish to again welcome everyone to this epoch-making occasion, which marks another milestone in the Nigerian Navy’s efforts at strengthening inter-agency collaboration for enhanced security within the nation’s maritime domain. I therefore want to particularly appreciate the Executive Vice Chairman National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Professor Mohammad Haruna and also acknowledge as well as appreciate the esteemed management of the Agency for propelling NASENI to enviable heights. I am therefore elated not just that we are here to witness signing of this Memorandum of Understanding but also for what it represents.
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NASENI’s tremendous efforts, which is changing the dynamics of engineering as well as facilitating Research and Development initiatives at every sector of human endeavour in our great nation and beyond is outstanding and commendable. More importantly, I applaud efforts of the Agency in collaborating with the Nigerian Navy especially in Research and Development, which necessitated the visit to the Naval Dockyard Limited in Lagos, geared towards refining Nigerian Navy local ship construction efforts. This indigenous shipbuilding efforts has enhanced presence of the Nigerian Navy at sea, which led to significant reduction of piracy incidents culminating into delisting Nigeria from list of International Maritime Bureau list of piracy prone countries. This has ultimately reduced high insurance premium (known as war risk premium), which is usually factored into shipping cost due to the prevalence of piracy incidences. These high costs are passed on to consumers (including you and i) to enable shipping companies recoup their losses. The good news is that sequel to delisting Nigeria from the IMB List of Piracy prone countries in March last year, the insurance premium has been reduced from 5,000 US Dollars to 946 US Dollars. This feat would be sustained by the Nigerian Navy.
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, this Memorandum of Understanding is not just a piece of paper. It re-ignites partnership between both organisations in several ways, including but not limited to promoting mutual synergy towards enhancing Research and Development for enhanced security as well as fostering operations and administrative engagements that would enhance development of sustainable Blue Economy for Nigeria’s prosperity.
I will not conclude these remarks without appreciating the sustained efforts and support from the Federal Government, which have been instrumental to the successes recorded by the Nigerian Navy. I therefore consider it most appropriate to again thank Mr President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR for his unflinching support, who coincidentally is the Executive Chairman Board of NASENI. The Nigerian Navy is indeed very grateful.
Finally, I wish to appreciate the Technical Committee that facilitated this occasion and to again salute the courage of the Executive Vice Chairman, NASENI and his esteemed management team. I wish to assure you that the Nigerian Navy is well positioned to meet up with the terms of this unprecedented Memorandum of Understanding and I look forward to a mutually beneficial partnership. I therefore implore both parties to be committed towards attainment of the objectives of the Memorandum of Understanding for the good of Nigeria and benefit of Nigerians.
Thank you, God Bless and as we say in the Nigerian Navy, Onward Together.
