The Nigerian Navy has said that six warships allegedly purchased from Norway by ex-militant, Chief Ekpemupolo (Tompolo) belonged to Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, saying that no individual in the country has any to buy warships.
The Chief of Training and Operations of the Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral Austin Oyagha, said at a press conference in Abuja that warships were owned by NIMASA and were being operated by officers of the Nigerian Navy in furtherance of the working relationship that exist between NIMASA and the Nigerian Navy.
Oyagha said it became more imperative for naval officers to man the warships because NIMASA did not have the rights to bear arms and ammunition.
He said, “I want to state categorically that no individual has acquired gun boats into this country. The gunboats being alluded to actually belong to NIMASA and these boats are currently being manned by personnel of the Nigerian Navy.
“And as you are all aware, Nigerian Navy has collaboration with NIMASA of which we have a maritime component attached to the organisation in support of the statutory responsibility in ensuring the safety of our harbor approaches to our anchorage.”
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