President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday dismissed fears of another postponement of the general elections, stressing that the March 28 and April 11 dates will not be changed.

Dr. Jonathan spoke at the Naval Dockyard, Victoria Island, Lagos while inaugurating four new vessels to boost the capacity of the Nigerian Navy (NN).

In Abuja, former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar spoke of assurance from the President that the elections will hold as scheduled.

Jonathan said: “Nigerians can see that the present administration is leaving no stone unturned in improving the capacity of the armed forces, not just the Navy. The Army and the Air Force have felt sufficient improvement in capacity.

“Let me also use this platform to promise my good country men and women that we will rout Boko Haram. Capacity has been increased sufficiently and our men are doing wonderfully well in the north.

“We must conduct elections as scheduled by INEC because within this period, we are convinced that we will return the North to the level where the activities of extremists will not affect our elections. We are working night and day and I have directed that Nigerians be briefed regularly.”

He restated his commitment to the unity of the nation, adding that the government places premium on national security, food security and employment generation.

According to the President, the government is working in harmony with the military to ensure the nation does not disintegrate.

“We will rout Boko Haram. Our capacity has increased sufficiently and officers and men are doing wonderfully well. The ongoing activities to contain the sect will also provide conducive atmosphere for elections to hold in the regions.

“We will return the (Northeast) region to a level where activities of terrorists cannot be carried out.”

Although the President commended the navy for the appreciable decline in crude oil theft, he however stated that “wilful vandalism of pipelines” within the oil producing areas and swamps, was on the rise.

“I am glad to particularly note the achievement of the Nigerian Navy in the fight against oil theft and other maritime crimes, the contribution of the navy towards the fight against insurgency and instability in parts of the country are equally highly appreciated.

“The high dependence of the nation’s economy on offshore resources, as well as the enormous potentials of the maritime sector to contribute to our food security and employment generation, makes provision of effective maritime security very imperative. Therefore, the Nigerian Navy, as the lead maritime security agency, deserves all the support it needs, to effectively carry out its statutory roles.

“The four ships being commissioned today are part of a total of six ships expected to be commissioned into the Nigerian Navy Fleet in 2015,” he said.

The four ships are Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) OKPABANA, a High Endurance Cutter acquired from the United States of America; NNS PROSPERITY, a former Irish Navy fishery patrol boat, acquired purposely for use as a training vessel; NNS CENTENARY, one of the two Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) procured from China and NNS SAGBAMA, a gift from China.

After inaugurating the ships, Jonathan proceeded into NNS Centenary, alongside senior officers, ministers, Oba of Lagos Rilwan Akiolu, and some members of the Navy Officers Wives Association for inspection.

The ships were handed over to their commanding officers.

Chief of Naval Staff Vice-Admiral Usman Jibrin handed over the ships to Capt. CD Okehie, Capt. MY Abba, Capt. AM Ibrahim and Capt. BK Effiong.

According to the CNS, NNS Okpabana is to be enrolled as a frigate with capabilities for long endurance patrol of the Exclusive Economic Zone.

He said: “The NNS Centenary’s main mission will include maritime surveillance, EEZ, patrol and response task and protection of offshore resources and infrastructure.

“The Centenary is to also provide aid to civil authorities when called upon to do so in period such as civil unrest and natural disaster among others.

“NNS Sagbama is a river town patrol vessel, while NNS Prosperity is to be enrolled into the NN as a training ship for junior officers and ratings.

Vice Admiral Jibrin said it was the first time the navy acquired four vessels within the same period and commissioning same.

He noted that the only time the nation did something similar was under the Shehu Shagari administration where three vessels were bought and commissioned for the navy.

“Nigeria as a littoral nation depends largely on the sea for her revenue earnings. The Nigerian navy being the principal agency charged with maritime security had been faced with the challenge of inadequate and ageing platform in its quest to effectively meet the maritime security needs of the nation.”

Noting that the vessels commissioned were the sixth acquisitions made since 2012, he said four more ships were expected to the join the NN fleet before the end of the year.

“These platforms will contribute substantially to the capacity of the Nigerian Navy to effectively patrol our waters and support the nation’s foreign policy objectives through flag showing visits to friendly foreign countries,” he said.

At the event were Minister of Defence Aliyu Gusau; Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh; Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant – General Kenneth Minimah; Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Olusola Amosu; Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sulaiman Abba; Senator Chris Anyanwu; Chief of Staff to the President Brig.-Gen. Jones Arogbofa and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman Adamu Muazu.

There were also former service chiefs, Vice Admirals Jubril Ayinla, I.I. Ibrahim; Ola Saad Ibrahim and Dele Ezeoba.

Source: THE NATION