The Nigerian Navy has inducted offshore patrol vessels and maritime helicopters during the service’s 69th founding anniversary.
The ceremony saw three boats enter service, each named the NNS Faro (P197), NNS Shere (P198), and NNS Ikogosi (P165), for sustained security over national maritime interests, primarily across the northern part of the Gulf of Guinea.
The force also commissioned three Agusta Westland AW109 Trekker lightweight rotorcraft bound for “over the horizon” surveillance, targeting, and crime prevention tasks.
Acquisition details and the origin of the Faro and Shere vessels were not disclosed by the Nigerian government, according to Janes. The third ship is a 37-meter (121-foot) Chamsuri-class system donated by South Korea.
Meanwhile, the three Tekkers were procured as part of a 2024 project to expand the military’s airborne fleet with “a dozen” AW109s and AH-1 Cobra helicopters, two Airbus C-295 cargo planes, and 24 M-346 trainer jets.
Later this year, the African country is expected to receive further additions to its surface vessel inventory, including two 76-meter (249-foot) patrol boats from Turkey, three 46-meter (151-foot) patrol boats from China, and smaller tow ships.
Bolstering Regional Defense
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who led the commissioning ceremony, emphasized that the recent milestone is “a declaration of the resolve, a testament to progress, and a bold stride” toward securing the nation’s future.
“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,” the president stated.
“Together, we are proving that the Gulf of Guinea’s safety is not Nigeria’s burden alone but a global imperative.”
Tinubu assured that the systems will serve as effective force multipliers “against piracy, oil theft, illegal fishing, and other maritime crimes.”
“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,” he said.
“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.”
