The Nigerian senate has advocated for a restoration of the country’s maritime flagship; the NNS Aradu which has remained inactive for nearly a decade.
Chairman of the senate committee on the Nigerian Navy, Senator George Seikibo, made the case on Tuesday while tendering his committee’s 2022 budget report to the Appropriations committee.
According to him, restoring that maritime flagship will help to sustain the relative peace and calm now being experienced in the oil rich Niger Delta region of Nigeria.
Senator Seikibo also highlighted the necessary statistics required to enable the senate make adequate appropriation for the Naval fleet, putting the figure at about five hundred billion naira in maintenance cost.
He bemoaned the lingering inadequate budgetary provisions for the armed forces, especially the Navy, which he said is the major reason for insufficient operational platforms for the Navy.
The senate committee on Appropriations led by Senator Jubril Barau, is now at the stage of collating reports from various sub-committees before a final copy is prepared for presentation to the senate in plenary.
Nneka Ukachukwu
Senate seeks restoration of Nigeria’s maritime flagship