No fewer than 15 gun boats have been by procured by Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL) and officially handed over to the Nigerian Armed Forces.
While seven gun boats were given to the Nigeria Army, the Nigeria Navy got no fewer than eight.
They are expected to enhance joint operations against oil theft, piracy and other maritime crimes in the oil and gas rich Niger Delta region.
The procurement of the gun boats and subsequent hand over to the military is seen in many quarters as a significant boost to Nigeria’s maritime defense capabilities.
Maritime Bits checks revealed that TSSNL is a private security company with its corporate headquarters situated in Effurun, Delta State.
It has the mandate of the Federal Government to secure and protect Nigeria’s vital oil and gas infrastructure through pipeline protection, paramilitary escorts, and advanced surveillance operations.
The commissioning ceremony which took place at the Nigerian Navy Boatyard in the Rivers State capital, Port Harcourt recently was witnessed by military officials, representatives of TSSNL and dignitaries from Rivers State.
The firm in a statement made available to Maritime Bits stated that the commissioning underscored the importance of public-private collaboration in safeguarding Nigeria’s waterways.
According to the statement, officials emphasized that the deployment of these gun boats will strengthen surveillance, rapid response, and deterrence against criminal activities threatening national economic assets.
It is on record that Nigeria’s maritime domain has long been vulnerable to illegal bunkering, smuggling, and piracy.
Not a few stakeholders in the maritime sector of the economy have opined that by equipping both the Army and Navy with modern gun boats, TSSNL aims to reinforce the military’s operational readiness and ensure safer navigation for commercial and civilian vessels.
