By: PHILIP NWOSU AND VIVIAN ONYEBUKWA

The Nigerian Navy, has pledged its continuous collaboration with other countries to combat piracy in the country’s territorial waters.
Rear Admiral Yakubu Wambai, the Flag Officer Commanding Western Nigerian Naval Command, disclosed this during a visit by the United States Coast Guard Cutter, Mohawk (WMEC 913), at the Command Headquarters in Apapa, Lagos.
The essence of the visit, it was learnt is to further strengthen the existing bilateral relations between both countries.

The FOC disclosed that sometime in April this year, Nigeria was delisted from the list of pirates states, meaning that, it has not had any piracy incident over the last 12 months.
He attributed this achievements to the effort of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, whom he said  has put in a task and a timeline, and followed up with proper guidance, ensuring that the Navy maintain close relationship with her foreign partners.

His words: “This collaborative effort of maintaining presence at sea, with them always being around, have been able to lead us to the state where we are. Going forward, such collaboration will continue, and that is why you are seeing MOHAWK here today”.
He promised the arrival of more of those ships, adding that, “Going forward, such collaboration will continue.

Next week there is a ship coming from India. In October, another ship will be coming from the UK. So we will continue to have these series of collaborative efforts of international partners working together with us to ensure there is synergy in combating this scourge. No one country can do that alone, except all of being together”.

Responding, the Consul General, Will Stevens, said the arrival of USCG vessel to Nigeria buttresses America’s commitment to supporting Nigeria in its efforts to secure territorial waters and the greater Gulf of Guinea (GoG).
He stated that Nigerian Navy has being long term partners with them, and expressed delight in the achievements of the Nigerian Navy in combating piracy in their territorial waters. “It is a credible achievement and I think a mark of the increase in capacity are here”.
He described the sea as absolutely critical to the global economy, as 90 percent of the trade economy moves on the ocean, therefore the need to make the ocean open and free to trade is essential.

Cdr Andrew Pate, MOHAWK CO, while speaking to the press, said they are excited to be in Nigeria after spending a month at sea, patrolling Western America, Africa, working with partners. He described security as every one’s responsibility.
On their other activities during the visit, he said, “As Consul General mentioned, we will be conducting discussions, performing exercises, doing trainings, and working along side with the Nigerian navy”, Pate said.