BRITISH NAVY SHIP TO ARRIVE IN NIGERIA

As part of efforts to strengthen ties between Nigeria and Britain, plans have been concluded for a Royal Navy Ship, HMS LANCASTER to visit Lagos.

The vessel, a Frigate class (F229) ship, which is currently in South Africa, will arrive the headquarters, Western Naval Command (WNC), Lagos, for a four – day working visit, the British High Commission’s Defence Attaché, Col. Dominick Fletcher, said on Monday.

Fletcher, who disclosed this during a courtesy call on the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), WNC, Rear Admiral Raphael Osondu, said the vessel will arrive Lagos this month for a joint training with Nigerian Navy personnel.

He said the ship is visiting Nigeria because of the importance the British government attaches to the country.

According to Fletcher, both navies will train on counter piracy, illegal bunkering tactics, boarding and interdiction and other necessary manoeuvre that will be mutually beneficial.

“HMS LANCASTER will arrive towards the end of the month and she will be based here in Lagos for three to four days. It will conduct training with the Nigerian Navy for the time she will be here.

“The Royal Navy has a long tradition dating back with the Nigerian Navy. Our relationship is very close and so, we will invite members of the Western Naval Command to train with the Royal Navy in a wide range of skills.

“It is basically capacity building to enable the Nigerian Navy to be more effective in dealing with prevalent challenges in Nigeria whether it is oil theft or criminality along the Nigerian coastlines,” he said.

In his remark, Rear Admiral Osondu assured that the navy will be standing by to play host to the vessel, and make visit memorable by rendering all necessary assistance.