Admiral Gbassa charges officers on commitment to duty
The Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Jason Gbassa, has advice personnel of the Command on the need to be committed to assigned responsibilities.
He made this remark during a variety of events organized by the Headquarters, Western Naval Command.
Spokesman of the Command, Edward Yeibo, who disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, said that the events held included a send forth, a decoration ceremony and an Award of Command at Sea Badge.
A total of 18 officers of the Headquarters Western Naval Command were appointed out to various units.
The officers are 3 Commanders, 9 Lieutenant Commanders, One Lieutenant and 5 Sub Lieutenants. Premised on the appointments, the Flag Officer Commanding organized a befitting sent forth ceremony with presentation of gifts to the concerned officers and a Naval Warrant Officer that has proceeded on retirement.
During the ceremonies, the Flag Officer Commanding decorated Naval Warrant Officer Mohammed Mala who was recently promoted.
In the Navy, Naval Warrant Officers are fondly called ‘Admiral of the lower deck.’
Naval Warrant Officer Mala who hails from Borno State, was enlisted into the Nigerian Navy on 26 February, 1988, as a member of Course 2 Nigerian Navy Basic Training School Akaso.
The senior rate has attended various military courses, prominent among these courses are Basic Mechanic Course in 1991 at Nigerian Navy Engineering College, Sapele. He went back to Sapele for Engineering Artificer Course from 1995 to 1998.
Naval Warrant Officer Mala has served onboard several Nigerian Navy Ships as Weapon Engineering Artificer. These ships include Nigerian Navy Ships OHUE, ARADU and SAGBAMA.
He was part of the contingent that sailed Nigerian Navy Ship ARADU to Liberia in 1997 for ECOMOG Peace Keeping Operation. He was also among the team that sailed Nigerian Navy Ship ARADU to Admiral Nelson Centenary, United Kingdom in 2005.
The Flag Officer Commanding also decorated Commander Andrew Zidon; the Base Operation Officer, Nigerian Navy Ship BEECROFT, with the Command at Sea Badge.
Commander Zidon was awarded the Command at Sea Badge due to his sterling qualities and successful command of the Nigerian Navy Ship EKULU. He was in command of the vessel for 18 months and clocked 2,150 hours.
During his command, the Ship was a vital asset in the Nigerian Navy’s thrust to ending illegalities in the Nigerian’s maritime space. Nigerian Navy Ship EKULU was deployed at various times under the Eastern and Western Naval Commands.
Furthermore, Nigerian Navy Ship EKULU arrested several erring vessels and contributed significantly to Nigerian Navy efforts towards reducing crude oil theft and other illegalities.
Additionally, the vessel was responsible for the successful rescue of MV SEAVOYAGER, a Pakistani Ship and her 11 Crew at Lagos when she caught fire on Thursday 15 August 2017.
The feat earned him the Chief Naval Staff commendation.
Additionally, under his command, the Ship participated in the Ghana Navy 60 Anniversary Ceremonies in Accra, as the Nigerian Navy Representative on 22 July 2019. The Ship also hosted His Royal Highness Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales during his visit to Nigeria on Thursday 8 November 2018.
Commander Andrew Zidon hails from Adamawa State. He attended the Nigerian Military School Zaria. Thereafter, he joined the Nigerian Defence Academy Kaduna as a member of the 50th Regular Course and was commissioned in 2003 into the Nigerian Navy with a Second Class Upper degree.
Commander Zidon has attended several military courses and some of these include the Royal Navy Young Officers Course at Britannia Royal Naval College Darthmouth United Kingdom, International Sub Lieutenant Course at His Majesty Ship Collingwood United Kingdom, Junior and Senior Staff Courses at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College and the United States Naval War College Rhode Island respectively.
He attended the Officers’ Long Course where he specialized in Navigation at Nigerian Navy Ship QUORRA, Lagos. He attended the Advanced Intelligence Course at the United States Military Intelligence Training Centre FORT HUACHUCA, Arizona. He also attended the Maritime Law Enforcement Officers Course at the United States Federal Law Enforcement Training Centre in South Carolina United States of America. Commander Zidon has done the Overseas Directing Staff Course at the Joint Service Command College, United Kingdom. He holds a Masters in International Affairs and Defence Studies from Salve Regina University Newport, Rhode Island.
Some appointments held by the senior officer include Sea Training Time onboard His Majesty Ship ILLUSTRIOUS, Portsmouth United Kingdom. He was also Flag and Security Officer to the former Chief of the Naval Staff.
Commander Zidon was Commanding Officer Nigerian Navy Ship EKULU. He is currently the Base Operations Officer in Nigerian Navy Ship BEECROFT.
