Author: GANUX

 

President Bola Tinubu has inaugurated three Nigerian Navy Ships – NNS SHERE, NNS FARO, and NNS IKOGOSI, and three AW109 Trekker helicopters: 501, 502, and 503 into the Nigerian Navy fleet.

 

Tinubu, speaking at the inauguration on Saturday in Lagos, said that the addition of the three Fast Patrol Boats and three maritime surveillance helicopters affirmed the country’s commitment to securing its maritime domain.

 

The president was represented by the Minister of State for Defence, Mr Bello Matawalle.

 

“The sea has remained a pillar of our nation’s economic prosperity, and for the past 69 years, the Nigerian Navy has stood as the guardian of this blue territory.

 

“These patrol ships and helicopters are force multipliers in our fight against piracy, oil theft, illegal fishing, and other maritime crimes.

 

“This inauguration is therefore a reflection of our determination to empower our institutions and protect our resources,” he said.

 

Tinubu assured the navy that his government would continue to prioritise its needs, saying, ”As a strong navy is the cornerstone of a secure and prosperous economy”.

 

He commended the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla, for his leadership in ensuring that the Nigerian Navy had pursued fleet modernisation with vigour, bridging capability gaps, and restoring pride to the force.

“Today’s induction is a fruit of your strategic foresight, and I commend you, your team, and all partners who turned this vision into reality.

 

“I also commend the National Assembly for its partisan commitment to funding and oversight, which are instrumental to achieving this feat.

 

“Let us sustain this unity of purpose, for the sea does not distinguish between political lines; it demands our collective vigilance,” the president said.

 

Tinubu also appreciated the international allies and technical partners for their collaboration, which underscored a shared truth that maritime security “knows no borders.”

 

“Together, we are proving that the Gulf of Guinea’s safety is not Nigeria’s burden alone but a global imperative.

 

“To the officers and ratings who will crew the ships and operate the helicopters, as you operate these assets, remember that the weight of Nigeria’s aspirations rests on your shoulders.

“Let us envision the future they herald: a future where our waters are impervious to criminality; where fishermen cast their nets in peace; where global trade flows unhindered through our ports,” he said.

 

The president said that the Nigerian Navy remained the guardian of the blue economy and urged them to sail forth with courage and know that a grateful nation stood behind them. (NAN)

 

Pro-democracy group, the Take It Back Movement, on Saturday, criticised the Federal Government over its invitation to Amnesty International Nigeria following the release of the human rights group’s report on insecurity in the country.

 

The PUNCH reports that the Office of the National Security Adviser, led by Nuhu Ribadu, invited Amnesty International for a meeting after it published a report alleging widespread violence and government inaction.

 

In the report released on Wednesday, AI raised the alarm over the government’s alleged failure to protect citizens from ongoing attacks by armed groups and bandits.

 

The organisation stated that at least 10,217 people had been killed and 672 villages destroyed over the past two years under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

 

According to AI, Benue State reportedly recorded the highest death toll with 6,896 fatalities, followed by Plateau State with 2,630.

 

In response, the FG, through a statement by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, rejected the report, calling it “an empty attempt at sensationalism and scare-mongering.”

 

A letter from the NSA’s Counter-Terrorism Centre, dated Wednesday, also advised Amnesty to withhold the report from publication pending a comprehensive engagement to address what it called “evident gaps and potential misinformation.”

The CTU, led by Maj. Gen. Adamu Laka, in the letter, described Amnesty’s report as “misleading,” stating that “several of the figures and assertions contained therein are inconsistent with verified data available to the government.”

 

But in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Juwon Sanyaolu, the TIB Movement described the government’s action as “an attempt to intimidate civil society organisations exposing government failures.”

 

“The Tinubu administration should focus on rescuing terror-ravaged communities rather than attacking civil society organisations like Amnesty International.

 

“Benue and Plateau states continue to suffer mass killings and forced displacement while critical infrastructure is destroyed. With all these overwhelming facts before us, it is appalling that the NSA would dare to label such a critical report as ‘misleading.’ This only underscores the administration’s blatant disregard for ending the rampant insecurity plaguing our nation,” Sanyaolu said.

 

The TIB called on the government to prioritise the safety of Nigerian citizens over public image, insisting that critics and human rights groups must not be silenced.

 

“The government of Tinubu should prioritise rescuing terror-ravaged communities, rather than attacking critics and organisations calling for an end to the bloodshed,” the statement concluded.