Cross River: Gov. Imoke Donates Patrol Gunboat to Nigerian Navy

Posted by admin Armed Forces, Cross River, Headlines, State News Saturday, June 11th, 2011

Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River state has donated a patrol gunboat to the Nigerian Navy at the NNS Victory Naval Base, Calabar. Presenting the boat, Imoke said the state will continue to support the Nigerian Navy with its lean resources to ensure the water ways and beyond to ensure the safety of the area.

Imoke remarked that for many years the state has partnered with the Nigerian Navy particularly the Eastern Naval command and such a partnership has created a secured and conducive environment for investment as well as development and tourism. The state, he maintained will continue to collaborate with the Navy to ensure the partnership is strengthened for it to realize its vision.

The Governor averred that Cross River state was reputed to be the safest state in the country due to the role played by officers and men of the Navy with the support of other security agencies which has culminated to its collective growth and development.

He said the state will continue to support the Navy despite its limited resources to ensure that the water ways and beyond are safe while assuring that the gunboat which he christened “NNS Victory One” will serve and protect the water ways.

Receiving the gun boat, Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin, flag officer commanding Eastern Naval Command thanked the state government for its donation. He said though the boat was handed over to the Navy three months ago, said, it’s the first of its kind by any state government and assured that it will be put to judicious use by the Navy and for the betterment of Cross Riverians.

Jibrin, who was represented by Commodore Peter Agba, Chief Staff Officer, Eastern Naval Command, disclosed that with the support of the boat, safety on the water ways will further be enhanced and made secure, adding that illegal bunkering, pipeline vandalization, kidnapping, piracy and militancy will be put off.

He thanked the state government for the land donated to Navy and solicited support for the Naval base in providing daily logistics to enable the boat operate. The Governor was later conducted round a gully erosion threat near the NNS Victory Jetty. The patrol gunboat is fitted with two guns that can fire 200 rounds of ammunitions in a minute with a range of 20 nautical miles on land or air target as well as rocket grenade and launchers.wp_posts