A United States-based company contributes unmanned vessels to Nigeria
Swiftship, a U.S.-based military manufacturing firm, has presented the Nigerian government with two advanced unmanned watercraft, namely the S2 and S3 Swift Sea Stalkers. The donation took place during a recent visit to the United States by the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle. The Ministry's Director of Press, Henshaw Ogubike, released a statement on Friday, noting that the minister had traveled to the USA to inspect the capabilities of cutting-edge military hardware production facilities in the country.
While presenting the unattributed vessels to President Bola Tinubu, the minister highlighted that these assets would play a crucial role in safeguarding the nation's maritime environment and other critical areas. He specified that the deployment of the equipment was intended for regions such as the Niger Delta, Lake Chad, and other maritime zones across the country.
The official statement conveyed, "In the Villa, the Minister of State for Defence presented President Bola Tinubu with two cutting-edge unmanned water vessels, generously provided by the Swift Ship Company in the USA. This donation aims to contribute to the fight against insecurity on our waterways and enhance national security overall."
Unveiling both versions of the apparatus, namely the S2 and S3 Swift Sea Stalkers, he emphasized that these state-of-the-art devices represent the latest technology to be utilized in the ongoing efforts to combat insecurity in the Niger Delta, Lake Chad region, and various maritime zones across the country.
It's worth noting that the Minister, during a recent operational visit to the USA, conducted inspections at NEANY, Swift Ships, and OCR Global—high-tech military hardware companies based in the United States.
Moreover, the minister conveyed that these outcomes stem from his official visit to various companies in the United States. Matawalle informed the President that the purpose of the tour was to promote cutting-edge technologies aimed at enhancing the efficiency of the Nigerian military in addressing contemporary security challenges.
Additionally, the minister expressed the intention to foster collaborations with U.S. companies for the local production of military hardware in Nigeria, in partnership with the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria. Matawalle emphasized that this collaboration would enable Nigeria to acquire innovative methods in military hardware production, aligning with President Bola Tinubu's commitment to bringing peace and security to the nation.
During his briefing to Mr. President, the minister highlighted the facilities he inspected in the U.S., which included a rapid deployment mobile RADAR system, an unmanned water vehicle, a drone ground control station, and a compact biometric search-scan system, among other advanced technologies.
He affirmed to the president that the introduction of cutting-edge military and intelligence hardware capabilities would significantly contribute to the ongoing efforts to combat insecurity in Nigeria.
Established in 1942, Swiftships gained global recognition for its innovative and effective solutions in the shipbuilding industry. The company is renowned for providing comprehensive services, including end-to-end shipbuilding, testing, and delivery, along with hands-on training and lifecycle sustainment support for new vessels.
In March 2022, the United States demonstrated its commitment to supporting the Nigeria Police Force Explosive Ordinance Disposal by donating five mobile detection system vans and other equipment valued at $2 million. Mr. Steward Voit, the Sustainability Manager from the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Smuggling Detection and Deterrence, presented the equipment in Lagos.
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