Navy Promises To Ensure Safe Waters During Yuletide

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The Nigerian Navy says it remains committed to the safety of the nation’s waters during and after the Yuletide.

The Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ibok-ete Ibas, said this at the end of the annual inspection exercise usually organized by the Navy, code-named ‘Operation Treasure Guard’, to make officers fit and combat ready for its operations.

The 3-day rigorous exercise on sea and the shores was witnessed by the Chief of Defence Staff, observers from the Defence Headquarters, as well as all Flag Officers leading their various ships.

The exercise kicked off from the Nigerian Naval base in Onne, after being declared open by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonishakin, with participating ships on guard and covered from the Calabar Waters East to the Delta regions in the central, the Gulf of Guinea waters towards the Atlantic in the Western Region.

The Chief of Defence staff urged the Nigerian Navy to be more vigilant and committed to securing the wealth of the nation on the sea and shores.

He commended the Navy for the acquisition of more ships, especially for the 30 most recent ones already in Nigeria from Sri Lanka.

The Naval Chief said that the Nigerian Navy in 2016 would not relent in policing the nation’s common wealth along the maritime domain, as presently, 139 illegal bunkeries have been destroyed between July 2015 till date.

While commending the government for its contributions, the Naval Chief made a case for more funding for the Navy in the coming year.

The Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command, said that the annual end of the year Navy sea exercise is ‎designed to work up the ships and personnel, in line with the Nigerian Navy doctrine of operations.

A total of 14 ships, covering the Eastern, Western and Central Naval Command, participated in the exercise.