History Made With First Nigerian Vessel On Omani Waters
Nigerian Navy’s newest Landing Ship Tank, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) KADA, has made history as the first Nigerian Navy Ship to visit Oman.
NN’s spokesperson, Commodore Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, who disclosed this in a statement Wednesday 6 April 2022, said that NNS KADA arrived Port of Al Duqum, Oman, on the first leg of her homeward voyage to Nigeria, making her the first Nigerian Navy ship to visit Oman.
TheFact Nigeria recalls that the Nigerian Navy recently took delivery of NNS KADA at the Albwardy Damen Shipyard, Sharjah, United Arab Emirate, UAE. The vessel, which began her homeward voyage on Friday, 1 April, 2022, was conceived as a replacement for the NNS AMBE and NNS OFIOM that were decommissioned about 10 years ago.
During the port call in Oman, the Commanding Officer NNS KADA, Captain Reginald Adoki, paid a courtesy call on the Commander of the Duqm Naval Unit, Captain Badr Mohammed Al BU Saidi. The visit opened a vista for enhanced military relations between Nigeria and Oman.
In appreciation of the visit, Captain Badar Mohammed stated that an Omani sailing vessel would be made to embark on a two yearly flag tour to Nigeria and West Africa for the first time.
Other activities during the visit were a novelty football, volleyball match and a cocktail on board the ship.
According to the NN, the induction of NNS KADA into the Nigerian Navy fleet will play a critical role in sealift of troops, maritime crises management, especially by conveying relief materials, thus contributing significantly to the promotion of humanitarian assistance within West Africa and beyond.
NNS KADA’s next port of call will be Mombasa, Kenya.