Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, has hailed men and officers of the Nigerian Navy over the reduction in crude oil theft, violent crimes and other illegalities in the nation’s maritime domain.
Irabor who gave the commendation at the Sunset Ceremony marking the end of the 2022 Navy Week and 66th anniversary of the Nigerian Navy held at Onne, Rivers State, said giving Nigeria’s present high dependence on oil revenues, the Nigerian Navy is indisputably a critical contributor to the mainstay of the nation’s economy.
The Defence boss explained that as the service of the Armed Forces statutorily charged with the securing the vast strategic resource and opportunities in the nation’s maritime domain, the Nigerian Navy has proven to be a tiredless and vigilant custodian of the marine environment.
He urged men and officers of the Nigerian Navy not to relent, but to redouble their efforts, in order to build a Navy that all Nigerians will be proud of.
“On this note I must commend the untiring efforts of the Nigerian Navy and indeed members of the armed forces in general, which has seen to the reduction of crude oil theft, violent crimes and other illegalities in the nation’s maritime domain. It is gratifying to equally note the zeal to the internal security duties on the hinterland and the nation’s adjoining waterways .
“The doggedness of officers and men of the Nigerian Navy in synergy with other security agencies have significantly contributed to instilling the peace and tranquillity in most riverine and coastal communities.”
The Defence Chief also applauded the Nigerian Navy’s initiative to invite maritime nation’s within the Gulf of Guinea and beyond, to be part of her maritime conference and the regional maritime exercise (Exercise Edi-Diana), to synergize towards consolidating the region’s common maritime security.
“We are indeed very proud to acknowledge your gallantry and service in this new and expanded continental role. I dare say, that as a service which Nigeria expect so much from, your only rational choice is to diligently sustain the achievements recorded as well as ongoing efforts despite deficiencies in equipment.
“I must also assured the Nigerian Navy that the federal government is working assiduously to ensure that your past operational handicaps concerning insufficient equipment becomes a thing of the past very soon, just as I have just alluded to. This is also recalling the fleet recapitalization efforts as well as other supports.”
Earlier, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, assured that the Nigerian Navy will not rest on its oars in defending the nation’s territorial integrity from the sea; as well as emplacing an enabling environment for economic and industrial activities to thrive.
“As democracy continues to flourish in our country, Nigerians are beginning to ask for not only accountability and transparency but performance from a very important arm of service like ours. Consequently the service cannot be found wanting in our core business to the nation and our region, the Gulf of Guinea.
“I’ll take this opportunity to assure all that we will continue to emplace an enabling environment for economic and industrial activities to thrive. To this end, increased attention is being giving to training to keep us abreast with modern trends in warfare. Training curriculum have been reviewed and we have several training aids and simulators are being continuously procured to join the inventory of the service.
“Concerted efforts are also being made to upgrade the fleet with procurement of new platforms. With the availability of the newly acquired platforms on the job training will also be accorded a well desired status in our career planning.”
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