The Nigerian Navy consolidated its rank as the premier maritime power in Sub Saharan Africa with the launch of a new landing ship tank.
This new LST bolsters the Nigerian Navy sealift capability. Nigeria can now project power far from home, not just in the maritime domain.
This new LST bolsters the Nigerian Navy sealift capability. Nigeria can now project power far from home, not just in the maritime domain.
The navy can land army troops, tanks, amoured vehicles in the coast of any West African state in the Gulf of Guinea and beyond.
It took two years to build. The Keel laying ceremony for the LST 100 was held on the 9 December 2019 at The Damen-Albwardy Shipyard in Sharjah the UAE. The immediate past CNS Vice Admiral IE Ibas placed the Nigerian Navy insignia into the keel and sealed it.
Without an amphibious force, any military force is greatly constrained in where and how it can conduct operations. This new LST ship and the troops and payload they can carry will boost Nigeria's firepower and political influence far from its shores.
Jets can drop bombs and ships can fire deck guns at the shore, but you might need infantry to go ashore and kill the enemy and occupy the ground. The Nigerian Navy now has this capability. It showcases Nigeria's increasingly powerful military.
When the new missile armed Frigate comes on stream Nigeria will have the capacity to combine them with its other offshore patrol vessels, NIMASA'S CSR4 architecture and amphibious and support vessels. This is air, land and sea approach to secure Nigerian waters.
These self contained fleets can be deployed as a show of force to deter potential enemies or to protect Nigeria's national interests. Nigeria now has the means to land tanks, thousands of troops on the coast of any West and Central African country.
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