The United States navy on Wednesday officially transferred ownership of its former Coast Guard Cutter Gallatin to the Nigeria navy, where it will now be known as the NNS Okpabana (Thunder).
A crowd of Nigerian navy officers, United States coast guardsmen and visitors gathered on a pier at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in North Charleston, United States, for the ceremony. Taps played hauntingly in the background as the U.S. flag was lowered and replaced by that of Nigeria.
In a speech, Coast Guard Rear Admiral Bruce Baffer extolled the strength of the Gallatin, which was built in a Louisiana shipyard and commissioned in 1969. It aided in the seizure of thousands of pounds of narcotics from international waters and assisted in search and rescue missions, disaster relief and Homeland Security patrols, Baffer said.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro who received the vessel on behalf of Nigeria, thanked the Coast Guard for their consistent support. He said the additional vessel will strengthen Nigeria's ability to combat terrorism and illegal activity.
"I am glad to know that American support has greatly enhanced the capacity of the Nigerian navy," he said.
The ceremony concluded as members of the Nigerian navy filed onto the vessel, taking command of the ship.
EdemAya, a community so rich in mineral resources, and one of the five clans that make up the present day Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria is hosting the world on the 29 th of March 2013. As we gathered from the head of the organizing group, Miss Precious Dominic Akpan, the event is scheduled to take place at the Cooperative Hall, Ikot Ubo Akama, Edemaya in Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State. Three beauties are to emerge from the event which promises to be the first ever organized pageant. The Eligibility Form which are currently on sale for a token of N 2,000 will qualify the contestants to struggle for Miss EdemAya, Miss Democracy of EdemAya and Miss Culture & Tourism of EdemAya. The screening and training of the contestants commences on 25 th through 28 th of March 2013. We have been reliably informed that the event will parade ‘who is who’ in the music industry in Akwa Ibom State and a popular reggae artist from Delta State. Imagine the sque...
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