- Two warships have been brought to Nigeria by the Royal Canadian navy
- The Royal Canadian navy, which has been in existence for 108 years, brought the warships to Nigeria for the first time
- The warships have participated in the first, second world wars and other wars, including United Nations peace keeping wars
The Royal Canadian navy has visited Nigeria with two warships, HMCS Summerside and HMCS Kingston, for the purpose of establishing a relationship that will enhance the Nigerian navy’s efficiency in the Gulf of Guinea.
The Royal Canadian navy has been in existence for 108 years, and this is the first time it would be bringing its warships to Nigeria, Vanguard reports.
NAIJ.com noted that HMC Kingston and HMC Summerside are first class coastal defence vessels, and they have served in the Canadian forces since 1996 and 1999 respectively
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The warships have 75 crew members led by the commander, Royal Canadian navy, Vice Adm Ron Lloyd.
During a visit to the flag officer commanding western naval command, Rear Admiral Sylvanus Abbah, Lloyd said that the visit would provide an opportunity for the two navies to synergies, adding that during the one week stay in Nigeria, the warships would participate in Obagame Express
Obagame Express is a maritime exercise conducted by the United States of America Forces, and it is designed to enhance cooperation among participating nations, in order to improve maritime safety and security in the Gulf of Guinea.
Llod said: “This visit is aimed at fostering the existing bilateral relationships and to boost capacity of military personnel in Nigeria. We are looking into supporting our excellency (high commissioner) with respect to Canadian relationship in Nigeria and we are proud to have two Canadian ships: HMCS Summerside and HMCS Kingston that will operate in the exercise.”
The Canadian high commissioner to Nigeria, Christopher Thornley said: “Our bilateral relationship is going on and this is a step in the right direction to see military cooperation as part of multilateral exercise Operation Obagame."
Rear Admiral Sylvanus Abbah described the visit as a privilege since it was the first time.
He said: “Canadian Royal navy came into existence since 1910 and has participated in the first, second world wars and other wars, including United Nations peace keeping wars. You have the experience and with your strategic location at the Atlantic to the Pacific and northward into the Arctic ocean, we hope to tap from your wealth of experience. Since we have many of our training institutions, together, we will fashion out what to do in terms of exchanging our military to train in both countries.”
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Meanwhile, NAIJ.com previously reported that four warships and 3,400 troops were deployed by the Nigerian navy to combat piracy, oil theft and vandalism of critical oil and gas installations in the Niger Delta region.
Rear Adm. James Oluwole, the flag officer commanding eastern naval command, announced the deployment, codenamed “Exercise Sharkbite” on November 3, 2017, in Onne, Rivers state.
The warships deployed for the operation were the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Okpabana, NNS Ologbo, NNS Burutu, NNS Sagbama, and a naval Augusta helicopter, while the 3,400 personnel included 3,000 ratings and 400 officers.
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Source: Naija.ng