United States of America Naval personnel arrived the country on Thursday, to begin a one-week training of its Nigerian counterparts as well men of the Nigeria Air Force.
Already three US Naval officers, Tom Garner, Gavry Ulrich, and a lady are on ground for the event scheduled to hold between February, Friday 22, and Wednesday 28.
The event tagged, �Exercise Maritime Safari-Lagos 2008,� is a joint maritime surveillance training exercise involving the Nigerian Navy, Air Force and US Navy, under the auspices of the Defence Headquarters and Ministry of Defence.
At the flag-off of the event at 88 MAG, Logistics Command Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force Base, Ikeja, Lagos, the Director of Training, Defence Headquarters, Rear Admiral Ekwere Udoh Ekwere, who represented the Chief of Defence Staff, disclosed that the exercise would focus on search and rescue procedures, aircraft maintenance and best practices to improve maritime safety.
According to the Naval boss, the rationale behind the on-going military-to-military co-operation between United States and Nigeria is to encourage multifaceted co-operation, including education programme for military personnel, mutual assistance exercise within the country, ship visits, as well as action to assist Nigeria in peace keeping operations.
Besides, Ekwere dismissed insinuations regarding the exercise with African Command (AFRICOM), assuring that the training would afford Nigeria Navy and Air Force the opportunity to sharpen their skills in maritime operations, especially in the rescue of vessels on distress on high sea.
Prominent to feature during the exercise include the US Navy�s P-3 maritime patrol aircraft, as well as its capabilities and role its plays in combined maritime awareness operations.
The essence of the P-3 aircraft, he stated, was to horn the skills of NAF on aircraft maintenance procedures and best practices using the C-130 platform operated by the Nigerian Air Force, which share common engine and propulsion system with the P-3 aircraft.
The Nigerian Navy and Air Force were expected to deploy a vessel, a helicopter, and two Donnier 228 aircrafts towards the exercise.
Feb222008