Navy ship KADA in ECOWAS stabilisation support mission to Guinea Bissau
Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) KADA on Saturday \ embarked on a voyage to Guinea Bissau as part of the strategic sealift role of the Nigerian Navy.
The voyage is her first national assignment since she arrived Nigeria from the United Arab Emirates on 27 May 2022.
The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, who was represented by the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Yakubu Wambai, while onboard the ship spoke on the expectations and importance of the operation, explaining that it is part of the constitutional responsibility of the navy in supporting peace-keeping operations in the sub-region.
He said: “The expectations are that first, this trip shows the synergy that has continued to be a hallmark of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
“The Role that the Nigerian Navy is playing today by NNS KADA in conveying military ware is one of the roles assigned to the Nigerian Navy constitutionally.
“By moving these equipment, we are supporting ECOWAS with the stabilisation backing that is established in Guinea Bissau.
“These equipment are needed by a contingent of Nigeria there. Hitherto, we would have moved these by international shipping. But, we have come of age that the Nigerian Navy can conduct this assignment as designed, as it ought to be and as we have been mandated constitutionally.
“So, the Chief of Defense Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff and the Chief of Army Staff, and the Chief of Air Staff have taken all these into consideration. By and large as it is, we are going to showcase our capacity and competence while keeping peace in the sub-region.”
He reiterated that the history of peace keeping in Africa and beyond cannot be written without mentioning the commitment and sacrifices of Nigeria.
Since independence in 1960, Nigeria’s commitment has grown to be widely recognized in the international community as an unrelenting advocate of global peace, hence it is crucial for her continual involvement in peace keeping missions in Africa and beyond.
The Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command 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 a coup attempt in February 2022.
Troops of Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana and Ivory Coast make up the ECOWAS Stabilization Support Mission in Guinea Bissau with one-year renewable mandate to stabilize the country.
NNS KADA is therefore embarking on the voyage to deliver the outstanding logistics and stores of the NIGCON.
By this effort, the capability of the new ship will be brought to bear in support of the ECOWAS mandate and in line with Nigeria’s Foreign Policy objective which focuses on Africa.
He added that the decommissioned NNS AMBE and OFIOM (both Landing Ship Tanks) had played similar roles before and during the ECOMOG operations in the 1980s and 1990s.
Furthermore, he added that for any peace keeping operation involving Nigeria, the Nigerian Navy plays general and specific roles. These roles include sea lifting of troops and logistics, Sea Surveillance, Blockade, Gun Fire Support, Control of Shipping and Sea Lane of Communication. Others are Search and Rescue Mission, policing, conveying of relief materials amongst others.
