Navy’s spokesperson, Commodore Ayo Vaughan, has said that the Chinese warship that docked in Lagos port was on diplomatic visit to Nigeria,assuring there was nothing to worry about.
A China warship, MSL DESTROYER, on official visit to Nigeria docked at the Lagos port.
According to The Nation, Commodore Vaughan said Nigeria and China have a long standing relationship, adding that the visit was to strengthen that relationship.
He said:” It is said that the navy is an instrument of diplomacy.
“Therefore, all navies in the world have diplomatic responsibility to do what is called in naval parlance flag showing visit for foreign countries where they have diplomatic and bilateral ties.
“The Nigerian Navy also does it, even though not very often. Because such visits from across two oceans are quite expensive due to the time and effort.
“So, it is not a strange thing that the Chinese are doing this port visit.
“Americans, Europeans, French and Spanish do it very often. Sometime last year the European Union rejigged its standing relationship with the Gulf of Guinea (GOG) nations by bringing three of their ships, a Spanish ship, Italian ship and one other ship, all in the name and security of the GOG.
“As you are also aware, the Chinese have interest in Nigeria and a growing interest in Africa.
“But that is not the issue; the issue is that it is just a routine visit by a Chinese warship. It is to further foster and show the bilateral ties that exist between Nigeria and China.
“You recalled that last year the Chinese gifted the Nigerian government a ship, which was handed over to the Nigerian Navy at our base in Apapa.
“Also there was some equipment that was handed over to the Nigerian Army, also from the Chinese government.”
