The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, Wednesday disclosed that the Nigerian Navy has adopted the Total Spectrum Maritime Strategy to guide its operational engagements, particularly in combating maritime crimes.
Ibas stated this during his visit to the Eastern Naval Command as part of the 2020 Chief of Naval Staff Annual Shore Inspection, which culminated in his interaction with personnel of the Nigerian Navy, Calabar Area Command, at the Vice Admiral Usman Oyibe Jibrin Auditorium.
He reiterated the Nigerian Navy’s resolve to deal with security threats including illegal oil bunkering, crude oil theft, smuggling, illegal unreported and unregulated fishing, kidnapping, banditry, hostage taking, piracy, sea robbery, poaching, considering the navy’s responsibility to tackle such threats within the maritime space.
He said that for optimal performance in the navy’s operation, the highest premium had been placed on availability and efficiency of ships as well as training and personnel motivation for the job.
He used the opportunity to commend the Federal Government for ensuring that the Nigerian Navy took delivery of numerous ships including recent acquisitions of offshore patrol vessel, Seaward Defence Boats, Patrol Craft, training and survey ships as well as helicopter.
A statement by the Command Information Officer, Edward Yeibo, said the CNS urged personnel to ensure safety of equipment kept under the watch of the units, ships and establishments in the Nigerian Navy.
Ibas encouraged the personnel on loyalty, commitment, professionalism, and integrity, just as he charged them on the need and importance of working as a team to ensure that the Nigerian Navy continues to support the Federal Government’s development efforts, as the Navy takes active responsibility in all assigned duties.
He urged the personnel to appreciate the nation’s investment in them by playing credible a role in the attainment of the constitutional mandate of the Nigerian Navy.
He thanked the personnel of the Eastern Naval Command for the achievements recorded over the years, in maritime security, and also warned against acts capable of bringing the Navy to disrepute.
The CNS also disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari had promised continued support for the navy’s operations by providing necessary resources as available, in addition to ensuring remarkable personnel welfare.
While giving commendation and pledging reward for those who have performed credibly, Ibas said there would also be sanction for those who had derailed from the norms of the Navy.
He advised the personnel to take ownership of the Nigerian Navy and see the Service as a place where individuals voluntarily joined the Service to propagate the benefits that are available.
He emphasized on psychological orientation of individuals, so as to remain ambassadors of the Nigerian Navy and by extension the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
The CNS charged the officers on the need to mentor the ratings under them that they superintend, in order to maintain focus in the system as it has been known for over the years.
He spoke on the connection between security and development, making reference to the recent #EndSARS protest that was hijacked by hoodlums, who destroyed property.
He, therefore, commended the personnel for taking bold steps to enable economic activities thrive in Cross River State, while he advised Nigerians to think of the Nation first in all undertakings, failure of which could have negative consequences.
Ibas advised the personnel to continue to keep safe and adhere to the COVID 19 safety protocols in line with the National Centre for Diseases Control.
In his response, the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral David Adeniran, thanked the CNS on behalf of officers, ratings and civilians staff of the Command for the support rendered in areas of operational logistics, infrastructure development as well as other welfare to boost staff performance in the discharge of their duties in the Eastern Naval Command area of responsibility.
