The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, has reiterated that the Nigerian Navy has the local capacity to build ships that meet world standards.
During a working visit at the Naval Shipyard in Port Harcourt over the weekend to inspect ongoing projects, Admiral Ogalla said the Navy has been into local shipbuilding and repairs for some time now.
According to him, the Navy had built three standard warships and is currently constructing two Civil Defence Boats at their dockyard in Lagos.
He stated that the Navy is doing a lot in terms of shipbuilding and ship repairs, but the public is not aware of it due to a lack of awareness and publicity. He urged the Shipyard and Dockyard of the Navy to increase its publicity and awareness.
Admiral Ogalla also said the lack of awareness is the reason why people travel abroad to buy ships as they are not aware that ships are constructed by the Navy, stressing that they are gradually overcoming the problem.
“We are trying to create awareness because we have the local capacity to build these ships. Of course, you know the Nigerian Navy has been into shipbuilding for some time now.
“We are encouraging the Shipyard and dockyard to go into publicity to make their work more visible.
“Why many people go abroad to buy some of these things we can do is lack of knowledge as a result of what we call sea blindness,” the CNS said.
The Chief of Naval Staff who was accompanied by top naval officers inspected the administration block, Ibom ferry, slipway, and sick bay which are under construction as well as 3 refurbished boats, and 10 flat bottom asphalt bolts for Navy operations among others.
