Posted by By Philip Nwosu on
A joint military exercise between the Nigerian Military and the United States Navy was flagged-off at the weekend off the Coast of Lagos. The exercise the Defence Headquarter said would test, Nigerian Navy and Air Force personnel on search and rescue operations.
A joint military exercise between the Nigerian Military and the United States Navy was flagged-off at the weekend off the Coast of Lagos. The exercise the Defence Headquarter said would test, Nigerian Navy and Air Force personnel on search and rescue operations.
The Director of Training at the Defence Headquarters, Rear Admiral Ekwere Ekwere said the exercise which is code-named Exercise Maritime Safari, is a joint maritime surveillance training exercise which will focus on search and rescue procedures, aircraft maintenance and best practices to improve maritime safety. The exercise, which started last Friday would run till February 28.
Admiral Ekwere who addressed newsmen in Lagos said the programme will feature the United States Navy P-3 maritime patrol aircraft whose capabilities and the role it plays in combined maritime awareness operations would be showcased.
He said that the Nigerian Navy would be committing one of its vessels and an helicopter while the Nigerian Air Force would be flying two Dornier 228 aircraft during the exercise.
The programme, Admiral Ekwere said would also afford the United States Navy the opportunity of flying its P-3 aircraft, adding that, 'it is our belief that the NAF will benefit from the US Navy counterparts on aircraft maintenance procedure and best practices using the C-130 platform operated by the Nigerian Air Force, which share common engine and propulsion system with the P-3 aircraft .
'On the other hand the Nigerian Navy will benefit from the combined technique towards search and rescue at sea."
He denied insinuations that the exercise was to kick-start the African Command (AFRICOM) of the US military, pointing out that the exercise is purely for military training purposes
While explaining that the Navy and Air Force of Nigeria were purely involve in this exercise, Admiral Ekwere said that the Nigerian Army would be participating as observers in the exercise.