LAI MOHAMMED COMMENDS THE NIGERIAN NAVY ON STRIDES AT SECURING NIGERIA’S MARITIME DOMAIN

…SAYS EFFORTS YIELDING POSITIVE ECONOMIC

CONSEQUENCES

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed commended the

Nigerian Navy for its effort at safeguarding the Nation’s maritime domain for

which Nigeria has been delisted from the list of piracy prone nations including the

removal of War Insurance premium hitherto paid by all ships arriving the country to

foster maritime commerce and trade. The commendation was made while on a visit

to Naval Headquarters Abuja on Thursday 23 March 2023. The impressive

development was acknowledged by the Minister during his goodwill message at the

shipping of stripes ceremony of two navy commodores promoted by the Nigerian

Navy Board on 15 December 2022. The Nigerian Navy board had approved the

promotion of 30 commodores to the rank of Rear Admiral in December 2022 and

28 of them were decorated on 21 December 2022, however the remaining two were

promoted unto retirement hence their decoration commonly called shipping of

stripes in naval parlance was postponed till their time of retirement.

The two commodores decorated today to the rank of Rear Admiral are Preston

Efedue and Jamila Malafa. Rear Admiral Efedue hails from Delta State and was

commissioned into the Nigerian Navy in 1991 and he holds a PhD in Diplomacy

and International Affairs. He has held several appointments during the course of his

career. Notable amongst them are; Director of Marine Services, Deputy

Commandant Naval War College and until his retirement, he was the provost

marshal of the Nigerian Navy. On the part of Rear Admiral Malafa, she hails from

Adamawa State and joined the Nigerian Navy in 1988. She holds a Masters Degree

in Constitution/ Criminal Law from the University of Lagos and International

Maritime Law from International Maritime Law Institute, University of Macida,

Malta. She has equally held several appointments within and beyond the borders of

Nigeria. Rear Admiral Malafa was African Liaison Criminal Court of justice of the

African Bar Association, UK from 2019 – 2021 as well as Judge Evaluator,

International Criminal Court from 2018 till date. Until her retirement, she was the

Director Legal Services, Naval Headquarters, Abuja.

The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral AZ Gambo during the ceremony

congratulated the newly decorated Rear Admirals for reaching the peak of their

career and urged them to justify the confidence of a proud and deserving nation. In

furtherance, he reiterated that there has been a reduction in piracy which culminated

into delisting Nigeria from the list of International Maritime Bureau list of Piracy

Prone Countries and removal of War risk premium leading to reduced cost of

insurance from $5000 to $960 for Merchant Ships coming to Nigeria. He further

used the opportunity to pledge his unalloyed loyalty and appreciation to the

President, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of

Nigeria.

In response to the kind gesture, Rear Admiral Efedue quoting Brian Brown said

“what separates privilege from entitlement is gratitude”. On that note, he

appreciated the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Chief of the Naval

Staff, the Minister of Information and Culture as well as everyone present.

Present at the event, were the President National Council of Women Society, Hajia

Lami Baba, Legal Colleagues, Principal Staff Officers of the Naval Headquarters,

friends and family members of the celebrants.