NNS Sagbama

The Nigerian Navy is set to commission four newly acquired warships at the Naval Dockyard Ltd, Victoria Island, Lagos, on 19 February.

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan will preside over the commissioning of NNS Centenary, NNS Okpabana, NNS Prosperity and NNS Sagbama.

A statement posted on the Nigerian Navy’s website read: "The acquisition is a landmark achievement for the Nigerian Navy and the federal government.

"The occasion is unique because this is the first time in the history of the Nigerian Navy that four capital warships will be commissioned at once."

The ships will enhance ongoing efforts to improve security in the nation’s maritime environment and help Nigeria meet security challenges.

"This is the first time in the history of the Nigerian Navy that four capital warships will be commissioned at once."

NNS Centenary was acquired from China as part of a contract awarded by the Nigerian Navy in April 2012. A P-18N offshore patrol vessel (OPV), it was launched in Wuhan, China, in January 2014, Navy Recognition reported.

NNS Okpabana is a former US Coast Guard Hamilton-class high endurance cutter and was transferred to Nigeria in May 2014 to help combat illicit maritime activities in Nigerian waters and the Gulf of Guinea.

The third warship, NNS Prosperity, is an ex-Irish Naval Force OPV, while NNS Sagbama is a 38m-long domestically built patrol craft.

Image: The Nigerian Navy’s NNS Sagbama is a 38m-long domestically built patrol craft. Photo: courtesy of the Nigerian Navy.