SECTIONS of Victoria Island and neighboring districts of Lagos are experiencing a big traffic gridlock as a result of Friday’s visit of President Goodluck Jonathan, who is in town to attend an event at the Naval Dockyard on Ahmadu Bello Way.
Access roads leading to the area were blocked by security agents to insure the president’s safety for the duration of the visit.
The event is the launching of the first locally built warship by Nigerian Navy engineers. Christened NNS Andoni, the vessel is patterned after the river town class patrol craft in the Nigerian Navy which include NNS YOLA and NNS BRASS, albeit with several modifications as decided by the design team.
The 31m Nigerian Navy Seaward Defence Boat (SDB) was conceived as a research and development project by Vice Admiral GTA Adekeye and Rear Admiral GJ Jonah who were then Chief of the Naval Staff and Chief of Naval Engineering respectively.
The keel of the SDB was laid at the Nigerian Naval Dockyard by the then Chief of the Naval Staff in December 2007 while full construction commenced in January 2008.
Between January 2008 and April 2009, the structural frames and shell plating of the hull and superstructure were completed while the main propulsion and power generation plants were delivered. Thereafter, the project was suspended due to funding delays until the incumbent Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral OS Ibrahim revived the project by approving funds for its completion.
This is in furtherance to the remark by the president at the commissioning of NNPC/MPN Satellite Field Development Project Platforms in Lagos on 17 March 2012 when he said that his administration would continue to support such effort.
“Our government will continue to support genuine efforts to uplift the country’s economy through Nigerian Content Development and we will continue to encourage the investors to encourage the development of local content.”
The vessel was successfully completed through tenacity, ingenious innovation as well as sincere and focussed leadership, despite the previously highlighted challenges.