- How Retired Military Officials Supported N/Delta Youths In Vessel Construction
OFONIME UMANAH
So much have been said about Kali-3, that gigantic vessel constructed in Delta State by Nigerians, courtesy of Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company Limited (SEEPCO). Most of those Nigerians were engineers from the Niger Delta. Youths of the Niger Delta region, that is.
But there was another group of Nigerians who contributed to the construction of the purpose-built vessel -retired military officers in the employ of SEEPCO. They did not only secure the Okpai HM Shipyard, Delta State, where about 200 Nigerians toiled day and night, for months, to build the vessel, giving birth to what has now become the property of the Nigerian Navy. They also contributed their expertise, based on past experiences, in building the vessel. The men may have retired from the Nigerian Army, but they are not tired of contributing the security of the Nigerian state.
On Tuesday, August 18, when the vessel was handed over to the Nigerian Navy, the retired soldiers were there, shoulders high, beholding the beauty of what they jointly built. And they felt fulfilled, just like the Niger Delta youths, who put in their best as they carved a niche for themselves in very positive ways.
Some of the retired soldiers expressed satisfaction with SEEPCO for giving them the opportunity to contribute to the security of the nation’s maritime corridor.
Retired Colonel Ishaku Damina Nuhu was one of them. He said: “I joined SEEPCO in September 2016 as Chief Security Officer, and it has been a very rewarding experience. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to work in different locations, from Aseomuku Jetty to Bomadi and now Agge, and gain a deeper understanding of the company’s maritime operations.
“Coming from a largely land-based military background, working with SEEPCO has given me the opportunity to learn a great deal about maritime operations through knowledge sharing and working closely with my expatriate and national colleagues, particularly those from the Navy.
“I am grateful to SEEPCO for the confidence placed in me and for the support I have received throughout my years with the company. I am proud to be part of the SEEPCO family and I wish the company continued growth, success and greater achievements in the years ahead.”
Navy Captain Abdullahi A. Musa (rtd.), SEEPCO’s Chief Security Officer Coordinator, also spoke on his experiences and shared his excitement for the privilege of being a part of history. He said he joined SEEPCO in May 2016. “It has been a great privilege and honour to be part of SEEPCO. Over the years, the company has given me valuable opportunities to contribute my experience, learn new things, grow professionally, and work with dedicated and supportive colleagues.
“I am truly happy and proud to be associated with SEEPCO. I sincerely appreciate the management and my colleagues for their support, cooperation, and confidence in me throughout my time with the company. SEEPCO is not just a place of work; it feels like a family, and I am proud to be part of it. I wish SEEPCO continued growth, success and even greater achievements in the years ahead.”
From Peter Owoicho Ikpati, a retired captain who served in the Nigerian Navy, also came this note of excitement-working with SEEPCO has been a satisfying experience. Hear him: “My last appointment was Deputy Provost Marshal at the Naval Headquarters, Abuja. I joined SEEPCO in April 2018, and it has been a wonderful experience so far. I enjoy working here because the environment is still maritime, which is similar to the Navy I came from. It also gives me the opportunity to reconnect and work alongside some of my former colleagues.
“With my expatriate colleagues, we freely share knowledge and experiences with one another. That has made my time at SEEPCO both enjoyable and rewarding. It is indeed great working with SEEPCO and I am glad to be part of the SEEPCO family. I am from Adoka in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State, in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region.”
Such have been the tales by those who formed part of the team that gave birth to Kali-3. And they are happy that their contributions have led to the birth of Kali 3, which is part of the SSV series, comprising 10 Security Support Vessels under IMO certification and equipped for operations within Sea Area 3, as defined under the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS). The vessel is ISO certified and incorporates class-compliant safety and life-saving appliances, reflecting a strong commitment to operational safety, reliability and resilience.
The vessel will be expected to lift crude oil tankers, LNG carriers and offshore supply vessels operating within Nigeria’s maritime domain. With an operational autonomy of approximately 10–12 days, Kali 3 is designed to support extended missions at sea, with onboard provisions, fuel and maintenance capacity. Its approximately 2.5-metre draft enables operations in shallow waters and creeks, while its Rigid-Hull Inflatable Boats, RHIBs) support rapid boarding and response operations.
On the day the vessel was handed over to the Nigerian Navy, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, commended SEEPCO for embarking on the project and urged other responsible maritime stakeholders to support partnerships that advance national security and charged the personnel assigned to operate the vessel to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, discipline, integrity and operational readiness, while reaffirming the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to strengthening partnerships that enhance maritime security.
Also speaking, Delta State governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, described the project as a monumental milestone for SEEPCO, the Nigerian Navy, Delta State and Nigeria at large.
The governor who was represented by his deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme, noted that the development was a strong testament to indigenous industrial capacity, effective local content integration, and robust public-private synergy between corporate enterprise and the Nigerian Navy.
He expressed immense pride in the fact that the sophisticated vessel was designed and constructed within Delta State, noting that the achievement validates his administration’s commitment to fostering a business-friendly environment backed by skilled local manpower and technical enterprise.
He said: “This is an important occasion for SEEPCO, Delta State and Nigeria. We are celebrating not only a new security vessel, but also indigenous capacity, local content and a successful partnership between the private sector and the Nigerian Navy. I congratulate the management of SEEPCO on this achievement and commend the Nigerian Navy for its partnership and professional contribution.
“I am particularly proud that this next-generation vessel was designed and built here in Delta State; it demonstrates that our state has created an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, while possessing the human capital, technical expertise and industrial capacity to produce sophisticated assets for strategic sectors of our economy.
“The SSV-KALI 3 will add valuable capacity to these efforts, it will strengthen maritime security, help protect oil and gas assets, and support the fight against oil theft, illegal bunkering and other maritime crimes.”
