Mkpoikana Udoma 24 September 2015, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt – The newly-deployed Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Apochi Suleiman, has declared war on oil thieves as he warned commanders, officers and ratings of the command against aiding criminalities in the course of carrying out their operations.
Suleiman gave the warning while taking over the mantle of leadership at the Central Naval Command headquarters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital.
The former Chief of Staff Officer, Naval Training Command, Apapa, Lagos, took over from Rear Admiral Stanley Ogoigbe, who has been redeployed to the Nigerian Navy headquarters in Abuja.
In his address at the event, Suleiman urged Naval personnel within the command’s area of responsibility to shun corruption and to be totally committed to their work.
According to him, “I want to reiterate here that naval personnel should work with the right attitude. They should be committed to their work to realise the mission of the Nigerian Navy and for the interest of Nigerians.
“For the commanders on ground, let me sound it loud and clear that the authorities of the Nigerian Navy will not tolerate any form of compromise on their part in carrying out their operations.
“Collaboratively, we are going to do the job set out by the Chief of Naval Staff without compromises. The Navy will not tolerate those who aid and abet criminal activities. The Nigerian Navy is paying all of us well and we must justify it and portray the force in good light. We must do our work well to achieve the mandate of the force in tackling illegalities.
“To my commanders, whether my seniors, subordinates and contemporaries, I urge you all to join hands with me to achieve our collective goals; we must put the interest of the force and Nigerians at heart at all times.”
Earlier in his remarks, the outgone Flag Officer Commanding, Rear Admiral Stanley Ogoigbe, recalled that during the time he held sway as the Flag Officer Commanding, he did his best to reduce oil theft and other forms of criminalities in the area.