1. The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) KADA embarked on a voyage to Guinea-Bissau on Saturday 6 August 2022 as part of the Nigerian Navy’s strategic maritime transport role.
The trip is her first national deployment since arriving in Nigeria from the United Arab Emirates on May 27, 2022.
Aboard the new Landing Ship Transport, Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, represented by Western Naval Command Flag Officer Rear Admiral Yakubu Wambai, announced that “as part of Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen and enhance security in the West African sub-region, NNS KADA has embarked military supplies and logistics for the Nigerian Contingent (NIGCON) as part of the ECOWAS Stabilization Support Mission in Guinea-Bissau.”
He reiterated that the history of peacekeeping in Africa and beyond cannot be written without mentioning Nigeria’s commitment and sacrifices.
Since gaining independence in 1960, Nigeria’s engagement in the international community has been widely recognized as a relentless champion of world peace, hence it is vital to her continued engagement in peacekeeping missions in Africa and beyond.
2. The Western Naval Command Flag Officer recalled that an ECOWAS contingent was deployed to Guinea-Bissau under the auspices of the ECOWAS Stabilization Support Force after the President of Guinea-Bissau, President Umaro Sisoco Embalo, escaped an attempted coup in February 2022 was.
Troops from Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire form the ECOWAS Stabilization Assistance Mission in Guinea-Bissau with a one-year, renewable mandate to stabilize the country.
NNS KADA therefore embarks on the journey to deliver the excellent logistics and warehouses of NIGCON.
This effort will bring to bear the new vessel’s capabilities in support of the ECOWAS mandate and in line with Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives, which are centered on Africa.
It was added that the decommissioned NNS AMBE and OFIOM (both Landing Ship Tanks) had played a similar role before and during ECOMOG operations in the 1980s and 1990s.
3. In addition, the Flag Officer in command of Western Naval Command stressed that the Nigerian Navy has a general and a specific role in any peacekeeping operation involving Nigeria.
These roles include troop raising and logistics at sea, maritime surveillance, blockade, fire support, control of shipping, and sea lanes of communications.
Others include search and rescue, policing, transport of relief supplies, among others.
Rear Admiral Yakubu Wambai urged the ship’s company aboard NNS KADA to adhere to integrity, professionalism and teamwork in all areas during the mission.
He also took the opportunity to urge officers and men to respect the religious and cultural sensibilities of the host country while performing their duties with the utmost professionalism.
4. The Commanding Officer NNS KADA, Navy Captain Reginald Adoki, in turn thanked the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, prior to the ship’s departure for his support and the favorable environment for the ship’s company to embark on the voyage in support of NIGCON the ECOWAS Stabilization Support Mission in Guinea Bissau.
5. The senior naval officers who accompanied the Western Naval Command flag officer to bid farewell to NNS KADA from Guinea-Bissau were Rear Admiral Hamza Kaoje, the Chief Staff Officer, Headquarters Western Naval Command, and Rear Admiral Samson Bura, the Fleet Commander, Western Fleet.
Others include Commodores Bassey Duke, Gideon Kachim, Victor Choji and other senior staff officers at Western Naval Command Headquarters.
