The Netherlands Navy on Tuesday said it was willing to partner with its Nigerian counterpart to ensure that adequate maritime security was provided within the Gulf of Guinea in order to encourage maritime trade.
The Director of Trade and Industry Support of the Kingdom of Netherlands, Rear Admiral B. Bekering, said this when he led a team of officers from the visiting HNLMS Rotterdam to the Western Naval Command Headquarters in Lagos.
Bekering said the Netherlands is a trading nation, adding that it was the desire of the Navy to ensure that there was a free flow of trade by providing proper security at sea and coastal waters.
He spoke while being received by the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, adding that the presence of the Netherlands warship within the Nigerian water was for diplomatic reasons, particularly to further trade.
While responding, the FOC, Rear Admiral Ibas, called for international participation to ensure that adequate security that would further trade was provided in the Gulf of Guinea.
The Netherlands Navy ship, HNLMS Rotterdam, while in Lagos, will participate in the military exercise tagged: “African Winds 2013.”
The Dutch Vessel, it was learnt, is in Nigeria as part of the African Partnership Station programme for Maritime Environment Workshop.
The APS is an international initiative developed by United States Naval Forces Europe-Africa, which works cooperatively with the US and international partners to improve maritime safety and security in Africa as part of US Africa Command’s Security Cooperation programme.
It is a strategic programme designed to build the skills, expertise and professionalism of African militaries, coast guards and mariners.
Its programme is delivered in many forms, including ship visits, aircraft visits and training teams.
APS activities consist of joint exercises, port visits, hands-on practical courses, professional training and community outreach with the coastal nations of Africa.
The focus is on building maritime capacity of the nations and increasing the level of cooperation between them to improve maritime safety and security.
The goal is to improve the ability of the nations involved to extend the rule of law within their territorial waters and exclusive economic zones and better combat illegal fishing, human smuggling, drug trafficking, oil theft and piracy.
APS also works to increase maritime safety by teaching skills that enhance a nation’s ability to respond to mariners in distress.
The HNLMS Rotterdam, it was gathered, will conduct joint trainings with African partners and also function as a platform for high level business events at the Port of Lagos, Apapa Quay, while presenting opportunities for Africans as well as Dutch businesses, thus increasing regional prosperity.
A statement from the Embassy of Netherlands said that the vessel will in addition participate in the “African Winds 2013” deployment to highlight the importance of regional security, as served by the Royal Netherlands Navy and its international partners.
The Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Nigeria, John C.M. Groffen, said: “For the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Nigeria, strengthening our bilateral economic ties is a top priority. This visit is characterised by the combined focus of strong economic relations and constructive cooperation in the field of regional security. These are core topics of this Embassy.”
Around the visit of the HNLMS Rotterdam, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands said it was organising a number of topical meetings and events, such as a business forum for maritime businesses from Nigeria and the Netherlands.”
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