The Government of the United States of America,
USA, yesterday, bestowed a rare honour to a Nigerian Navy attache, Navy Captain
Kolawole Oguntuda, with its Presidential Medal of Honour.
Oguntuda, who is
the Nigerian Deputy Military Attachee to the United States, bagged the honour
for his outstanding achievement in playing a wonderful part in advancing a
strategic role by enabling cooperation between the US and the Nigerian Navy.
Commander, United
States Naval Forces in charge of Europe and Africa, Admiral Michelle Howard,
presented the award to the Nigerian born Oguntuda, on behalf of President
Donald Trump, at the Nigerian Naval Headquarters, Abuja.
Speaking at the
brief but colourful ceremony, Admiral Michelle Howard observed that the
increasing wave of maritime crimes, terrorism and militancy in Nigeria was
posing a great threat to the Nigerian economy.
But in a swift
reaction to the observation by the American Government representative, Speaking
at the event, Chief of Naval Staff CNS, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas,
dismissed the claim, saying the Nigerian Navy will work hard to halt such
threats by the Niger Delta militants as observed.
“We actually don’t
need people from outside to tell us how strategic Nigerian Navy is in securing
our environment. Nigerian maritime space and the Gulf of Guinea. We have all
been witnesses to security challenges we have had, “he said.
Howard had
said:”Firstly, I want to congratulate Capt Oguntuda on his outstanding
achievement. He has played a wonderful part in advancing the strategic role by
enabling cooperation between our two Navies.”
She spoke
further:”This cooperation has become more and more vital when you think about
Nigeria position as a regional leader. Your geographical location, population
and economic power means that you have a strategic and crucial place in global
and regional politics.
“And this
assertion is more and more certain. United Nations predicts that Nigeria will
have the world’s third largest population two decades from now.”
She opined that
Nigerian “economy is likely to grow five times its current size in the same
period making Nigeria a regional engine for growth.
Hear her:”The
growth does not come without challenges. In Capt Oguntuda work directly
supports bilateral efforts in countering terrorism, humanitarian response and
capacity building.
“The maritime
environment and threats to stability are crucial. Oil extraction and production
accounts for 75% of Nigeria’s revenue with the vast majority of oil
infrastructure existing off shore or really close inshore. So terrorism,
criminal networks, illegal bunkering with damages of oil pipeline directly
threatens Nigeria economy.
“That is where
navies come in. I as the commander regards the NN as a key regional partner in
securing the Gulf of Guinea and I seek to strengthen our relationship assisting
you in providing protecting to Nigeria’s future for economic security and
enhancing regional stability. Once again.”
“The maritime
environment has these spate of piracy attacks, robbery, last year especially,
also had some elements of resource theft, including illegal fishing in our
waters, we saw some elements of human trafficking, arms trafficking as well as
drug trafficking, not to mention waste dumbing and environmental concerns.”
Ibas, on his part
explained that “the strategic role Nigeria plays is what has brought America.”
“For the threats
you mentioned in the Niger Delta, one thing I want to assure you is that so
long as human beings exist, there will always be conflicts, and once there are
conflicts, there would always be ways of resolving those conflicts.
“For Nigerian
Navy, we will continue to build our capacity and capabilities to enable us
contain such threats,” Ibas stated.
On securing
Nigeria’s maritime territory, the CNS explained that “if Nigeria is the main
concern to look at in the sub-region, Nigeria therefore becomes an important
country for those who have interest in this region, to come and have
conversation to see how they can enhance the maritime law enforcement agencies,
in this case, the Nigerian Navy in particular to see how we can make the
maritime environment secured and promote trade and prosperity in the region.
“US government has
always been offering us support. The sea do not belong to any particular
individual, they are global commons, and transnational crimes that occur, means
that from one country to the other, your security can be compromised if the sea
space is not properly governed, “he added.
News
Source: - Vanguard | September 9, 2017.
Photo Source: - Naijcomm| March 16, 2017
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