French warship BAP Jules Verne is in Nigeria

The French warship BAP Jules Verne is in Nigeria to consolidate technical links rather than to protect French oil firms’ facilities in the African nation, according to the ship captain, Commodore Thierry Ruffier.

"We are in Nigeria in furtherance of the technical links France has with countries of the Gulf of Guinea, including Senegal, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana’’.

There have been speculations that the ship may have been sent to help protect the facilities of French oil companies operating in Nigeria, amid the recent escalation of violence in Nigeria’s Niger Delta oil region.

The warship, carrying 270 sailors, arrived in Nigeria 27 September and is scheduled to depart for Senegal Friday on its return journey.

Ruffier said members of the Nigerian Navy Engineering Corps would board the ship to share experiences on maintenance of ships for cross-pollination of ideas, adding "We have also come to learn from the Nigerian Navy being the largest in Africa. Our visit coinciding with the country’s independence anniversary celebration is fulfilling."

The maintenance vessel had also visited Nigeria three years ago.

Source: en.afrik.com - French military ship in Nigeria to ’consolidate technical links’ not to protect - Thursday 02 October 2008.