Navy to establish operations base to protect $35bn investment at Lagos Free Zone

The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla has disclosed plans by the Navy to establish a Forward Operating Base in Epe to protect the Lagos Free Trade Zone and the over $35billion worth of investment in the axis.

Ogalla disclosed this at the Naval Air Base (NAB) in Ojo, during his tour of units, commands and inspection of naval vessels within the Lagos area.

He said the new base would complement the existing naval units such as NNS BEECROFT and others in the Lagos.

The CNS said given the huge investment in the maritime sector and Lagos being strategic to the economy of the nation and the sub region, the navy deemed it necessary to establish the FOB.

He said the deployment and the establishment of new operational bases are part of the navy’s strategic guidelines to protect the economy of the nation.

“We are also starting up new bases at Epe to take care of the free zone. All these things are in view to improve the ease of doing business in Lagos, by ensuring the aspect of security in maritime domain is taken care of.

“We have been protecting oil and other critical national assets at sea and will continue to do so.

“One of our strategies is to ensure security of the land spectrum and all the external waters, and 30 per cent of Lagos is within the internal water. This is one of the areas we have paid attention to,” he said.