By Sandra Chukwunyere
A Delegation of the Australian Defence Forces, led by its Director General, in charge of Platform Development, Brigadier General Basset is in Lagos and has paid a courtesy call on the Flag Officer Commanding, FOC, the Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Michael Oamen and his senior Officers at the Command in Lagos.
After an inspection of the Guard of honour, Brigadier Basset said that the purpose of the visit was, to see and acknowledge the latest acquisition of the Nigerian Navy, which is the NNS Kada, a state of art and world class Landing Craft which they found out, to be the best in the world, after period of searches around the globe.
Brigadier Basset noted that they have come to Nigeria to see what makes the Craft, the very best and to examine it, with a view to understudying it so as to build similar craft when they get home.
The Leader of the Military Delegation, assured his hosts that, in the future, the Australian Defence Force hopes to build a relationship with the Nigerian Navy to collectively operate those vessels together in a very seamless way for both countries.
He explained that the Team would look at the craft, study it and would come back sometime in the future with more technical personnel to also look at it and learn from it.
” We have come here to see something we have been excited about for sometime now, we are most excited to come and see it today and we will take everything that we will learn back to Australia and start construction of the same craft, we are believing that at some stage in the future, we shall come together and learn assistance as “Sisters”, on the ocean and we hope that the Nigerian Navy and the Australian Navy can navigate and celebrate successes together”.
The Director General, Platform Development of Australian Defense Forces, however thanked the FOC, for the honour of receiving them and commended him for the opportunity of the emerging collaboration.
Welcoming the Team to the Command, the FOC, Rear Admiral Michael Oamen first, extended a very special warm welcome from the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, to the visiting Australian Naval Officers.
Rear Admiral Oamen attributed the linking cord between Nigeria and Australia, to the ocean, which runs around the entire globe and makes the world become like a global village.
He expressed his utmost gratitude for the visit and explained that Nigeria and Australia belong to the same commonwealth hence the need for collaboration and he was even more happy that the visit has taken the collaboration even deeper, with the visit of the delegation, which has come to see what the Nigerian Navy, is doing.
…”The Nigerian Navy is one of the leading Navies in Africa and is always happy to collaborate with the Navies of advanced countries like Australia”.
The FOC, Western Command also expressed appreciation for the Team’s visit to check on the Nigerian Navy’s Landing Craft and for the kind words lavished on the Nay for acquiring such a Craft, which he said was new, noting that, the Nigerian Navy has a lot of responsibilities in ensuring security and peace in the Gulf of Guinea and to safeguard economic activities and making sure that a layer of communication is kept clear and devoid of all activities of pirates and other criminal activities on the nation’s waters.
The FOC explained that the Nigerian Navy has affirmed the global standards that has been associated with the Nigerian Military, especially the Nigerian Navy which feels very humble that the Australian Navy has recognised her as having one of the best Landing Crafts and that has called for international collaboration, noting that, when notes would be compared, the Nigerian Navy would be seen as maintaining what is known as global best standards and practices, hence the beginning of Nigeria and Australia’s collaboration,
moving to greater heights.
He explained that such international collaboration makes international security strengthened and helps to enhance standards operations.
According to the Naval Boss, the Nigerian Navy is excited to have the Team in the country and it is in accordance with the Chief of Naval Staff’s vision and guidance, to align with foreign Navies to expand the frontiers of international collaboration and that is the reason the Nigerian Navy is happy to receive the visitors and would also benefit something from them while comparing notes, as that is the essence of international collaboration.
“We are happy to have NN Kadar, the new state of the art Landing Craft, considering what the Nigerian Navy had done it is even more humbling, hoping that by the time, Director General Basset and his delegation would get onboard the Craft, they would know about the capability of the vessel and by the time they will build a similar Craft, perhaps, a much better version, the Nigerian Navy would then go there to see what would have been added to make for the needed improvements”
The FOC noted that collaboration would continue and that would further help in the international maritime security, because at the end of the day, it is for the wellbeing of both countries, for where there is trade, there will be development and then security.
Rear Admiral Oamen however expressed the hope that whatever the Team would take home after the visit, would be very useful in their future plans and wished them a happy stay in Nigeria as a very hospitable country while also urging them to avail themselves the opportunity of the visit, to have tastes of the countries different delicacies especially the jollof rice and others.
He also urged them to mingle and make friends as that is the whole idea of global collaboration.
Present with the FOC, at the Command to receive the Delegation, were the Chief Staff Officer, Western Command, Rear Admiral S.D. Ibrahim, Captain T.A. Ogunkoya, Captain L.D. Oleyin, Commander Information Unit, A. Ahmed and the others.
High points of the visit, was signing of the Visitor’s Register by the Leader of the Delegation, Brigadier General Basset, exchange of souvenirs as well as group photographs of all the Officers of the two Navies, in attendance.
