The Nigerian Naval Dockyard Limited (NDL) have completed the repair and refurbishment of the first of six naval warships belongings to the Benin Navy. The vessel has been handed over to Benin.
Abolaji Orederu, NDL admiral superintendent, spoke in Lagos during the handover ceremony on Wednesday that the ship that was repaired and refurbished is the Benin Navy ship (BNS) PENDJARI 900.
Goussanou Bernard, the chief of operations of the Benin Navy, said the ship would be deployed to fight insecurity on the waterways.
“We intend to deploy it to our maritime space. Nigeria and Benin are in the same Zone E, and we are facing the same threats. So, we need all ships to tackle insecurity,” the captain said.
Bernard noted that the relationship between both countries is rooted in a strong foundation, adding that the initiative would cement the bond.
This March, in a landmark move to bolster maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea, the Nigerian Navy entered into an agreement with the Benin Republic Navy (BRN) to undertake the refurbishment of six BRN warships. This initiative is set to significantly enhance the naval capabilities of Benin and contribute to the safety and security of the crucial maritime region.
The agreement, which encompasses the docking and repair of the Beninois navy ships, was formalized at the Naval Dockyard Limited (NDL) in Victoria Island, Lagos. The signing ceremony took place at the BRN Naval Headquarters in Cotonou, marking a historic moment for both nations.
The Admiral Superintendent of NDL, Rear Admiral Abolaji Orederu, highlighted the significance of the agreement, stating that the warships—BNS PENDJARI, BNS OUEME, BNS ALIBORI, BNS ZOU, BNS MATELOT BRICE KPOMASSE, and BNS COUFFFO—had already set sail from Cotonou to Lagos. The refurbishment process is expected to span 10 months, during which the NDL will apply its expertise to restore the vessels to their optimal condition.
As at 2012 the Benin Navy has a strength of approximately 200 personnel. It operates two ex-Chinese patrol boats, which are designated the Matelot Brice Kpomasse class. In 2020, the United States supplied two Safe Boats vessels to better protect the Port of Cotonou and Gulf of Guinea coastline rife to increasing maritime insecurity.