Nigeria: U.S. Explains Frequent Deployment of Warships
Daily Champion (Lagos)
May 31, 2006
Posted to the web May 31, 2006
Florence Udoh
Abuja
The United States of America (USA) yesterday said Frequent deployment of its warships to the Gulf of Guinea had assisted Nigeria to protect the region from the activities of terrorists and maritime criminals.
Commander of American Naval Forces in Europe and Africa, Admiral Harry Ulrich who disclosed this dispelled insinuations that the presence of the warships was a preclude to launching a military attack on the country or further individual interest.
Answering questions from reporters at the on-going Seapower for Africa symposium at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, Admiral Ulrich, said regular patrol of the region was imperative to secure our biggest oil field, Bonga project.
Ulrich maintained that much as the Nigerian government is trying its best to secure the region, reports available to Washington indicate that the Gulf of Guinea is full of international criminals including terrorists, sea pirates and smugglers are part. Ulrich said that considering the dependence of America on Nigeria¡¯s oil, they are bound to show concern for the country (Nigeria). In his words, ¡
Said he: "We hear series of stories for our presence in the Gulf of Guinea, but I want to say that we are concern for Nigeria and we want to help her protect the region from the hands of maritime criminals. Ulrich said. He continued, "In all parts of the world, the US and any good nation want a safe coastal and safe coast for those countries who are supplying our/their energy, and that is why we are often there.
Meanwhile, so there is nothing to fear for Nigeria he assured. In the meantime, the South African Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Retiloe Mudimu, yesterday blamed the frequent disasters that have befell the maritime industry in the continent on the refusal of African States to implement the ratified conventions governing the industry. Towards this end, he called for, a better ties among African countries on maritime disaster management.
Admiral Mudimu while reacting to the high number of human and materials that were lost in the far Tsunami disaster in Indonesia and the number of ship mishaps in Africa noted that, despite the distance between Africa and Indonesia, the Tsunami disaster still had a divastating effect on Somalia because there were no detection of the earthquake several hours after it occurred.
Meanwhile, Chief of Naval Staff[ CNS], Vice Admiral Refiloe Mudimu has called for a strong united co-operation of all African nations in order to avert maritime disasters such as that of the sinking of the Egyptian Ship Al-Salaam Boccaccio 98 in the Red Sea in February 3, 2006 , and sinking of the South African M.V. Oceanos ship on August 1991 amongst many others, which not only cause loss of many lifes of Naval officers but also result in loss of great economic loss to the nations affected.
Speaking yesterday at the on-going 2006 Sea Power For Africa Symposium, holding in Abuja, the South African CNS, stated that there was urgent need to prevent such disasters and the feat was only achievable through joint co-operative efforts.
He added that the world is fast becoming globalised and the global economy is fuelled by international trade most of which is Sea- Borne.
This underscores the critical significance of ensuring that we establish and effectively maintain maritime distress areas, chart exclusive economic zones and continental services and establish and constantly update co-operation and hence ensue co-ordination between parties and states for search and rescue operations and others he stated.
He also emphasized the need for all African countries to comply with guidelines of relevant conventions such as the United Nations International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue , 1979 under the auspices of the United Nations International Maritime Organisation (Imo) with its slogan , safe, secure and efficient shipping on all oceans. He mentioned other conventions such as the International Maritime Organisations International Ship and Port Security Code 2002 amongst others which he said are all meant to maintain accepted international recommended practices.
According to him, a great number of disasters on sea and oceans would have been avoided in Africa if these conventions and enactments were adhered to.
Also, the South African Director of Naval Policy, Rear Admiral Bryan Donkin who presented a paper Maritime Disaster Management in African: An appraisal pointed out that most African Navies are insufficiently trained in safety management especially in fire-fighting and emergency evacuation procedures.
He called for more training of all Naval staff in the continent.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Chief of Naval Staff of the Nigerian Navy, vice Admiral Ganiyu Adekeye added that to prevent such maritime disasters, there was a need for frequent inspections of ships, more safety restrictions and better training of crew members.
AI
