Former Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo has been praised by the organisation Prayer and Support for the Nigerian Armed Forces and other Security Agencies for his doggedness in creating a naval force that is strong, innovative, and responsive, and which can protect the nation’s maritime environment.
Recapitalization and bolstering collaborative efforts with national and international stakeholders were just two of the many notable achievements credited to Gambo’s 29-month leadership of the Nigerian Navy.
NNS LANA, a new Hydrographic Survey Vessel, and NNS KADA, a new Warship, were delivered; a Memorandum of Understanding was signed for the Refit and Remodelling of NNS ARADU, Nigeria’s Flagship; and two high-endurance Offshore Patrol Vessels were ordered from Dearsan Shipyard of Turkey.
On Saturday, convener Mary Fatile announced these details in a press release.
Two new ships and a new helicopter were commissioned during a Presidential Fleet Review held in honour of former President Muhammadu Buhari and oversaw by the 57-year-old and energetic Gambo.
He launched Operation Dakatar Da Barawo, the largest military operation against oil theft in Nigeria’s history, which involved the use of 40 warships, 200 gunboats, and five helicopters.
In his first year in office, his administration conducted an operation that resulted in the seizure of 728,000 barrels of crude oil, 44.5 million litres of illegally-refined diesel and 2.46 million litres of kerosene, with a total value of more than $71 billion.
During his presidency, the Falcon Eye Alignment, a cutting-edge maritime surveillance and intelligence system that is also among the most advanced domain awareness systems in Africa, was officially launched.
Fatile said that the company’s local content work advanced during Gambo’s tenure, and that the company started building Seaward Defence Boats 4 and 5 at the same time.
According to her, “In securing the Gulf of Guinea, Vice Admiral Gambo took the lead on the ongoing efforts to establish a Gulf of Guinea (GoG) Naval Task Force, and hosted meetings of the Heads of Navies and Coastguards of the Gulf of Guinea nations in Abuja in April 2023 and in Lagos in May 2023.”
“Gambo has been able to explore and unwrap formidable factors that can guarantee a prepared naval fleet poised to ameliorate maritime insecurity for the prosperity of the mainstay of the nation’s economy, thereby making indelible marks in the sands of time in the Nigerian Navy.
