Bayelsa's deputy governor challenges Nigerian navy to start building ships in the Niger Delta

BAYELSA State deputy governor Rear Admiral John Jonah has challenged the Nigerian Navy to start engaging in shipbuilding as a means of diversifying the economy of the Niger Delta and boosting the nation’s capacity in maritime trade.

Located in Nigeria's oil rich Niger Delta, Bayelsa State has one of the largest crude oil and natural gas deposits in the country but yet the majority of Bayelsans live in poverty. Bayelsa has a riverine and estuarine setting, with many of its communities almost and in some cases completely surrounded by water, making them inaccessible by road.

Due to oil pollution, local industries like fishing have been destroyed and as oil exploration only employs few people, there is very little employment for Bayelsans. Deputy governor Jonah has asked the Nigerian Navy to full this vacuum but engaging in ship building which the Niger Delta is perfectly suited for.

He added that the Nigerian Navy could boost the nation’s capacity in the maritime trade by championing the development of its own war ships. Admiral Jonah, who was the special guest of honour at a sailing competition organised by the Nigerian Navy Sailing Club, Ojo, Lagos, said there was need for the navy to begin to design and construct its own vessels.

This, according to him, will also create jobs and arrest capital flight. Admiral Jonah was the head of a team of naval engineers who built the nation’s first defence boat known as NNS Andoni, which is now participating in the war against arms and drug smuggling, illegal fishing and human trafficking in Nigeria's territorial waters.

Admiral Jonah noted that millions of dollars were spent annually to procure vessels abroad when locally-produced ones would meet the immediate needs of the nation. He added that Nigeria is basically a maritime country and that there are so many activities in the sector which account for the growing need for platforms to meet up with the demand.

“One thing that is in favour of Nigeria, is genuine engineers who are willing to embark on such projects. The Cabotage Law also creates opportunities for the navy to produce crafts at certain level, which can be easily manufactured locally,” Admiral Jonah added.