Navy hosts swimming competition to boost civil-military relations

By Precious Igbonwelundu

To improve civil-military relations and groom swimming talents in the country, the Nigerian Navy (NN) at the weekend hosted the eighth Chief of the Naval Staff’s (CNS) National Swimming Championship.

The competition which ran from Thursday to Saturday at the Olympic Size Swimming Pool of the National Stadium in Surulere, had 16 states, military and paramilitary representatives competing for the laurel.

Participants included Lagos, Edo, Ogun, Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Gombe, Kaduna, Oyo, Ondo, Anambra and Abia States as well as the Nigerian Army (NA), NN, Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Dentence Corps (NSDC), Federal Fire Service, Ikoyi Club and Universities of Ibadan and Ife.

The Nation reports that 28 events were competed for in the three-day event including women’s 50m Breast Stroke, men’s 50m Breast Stroke, women’s 100m Butterfly, men’s 100m Butterfly, women’s 50m Freestyle, men’s 50m Freestyle, women’s 200m Backstroke, men’s 200m Backstroke, men’s 200m Ind-medley, women’s 200m Ind-medley, 4x50m Mixed Freestyle and 4×50 Mixed Medley Relay.

Flagging off the exercise, the CNS Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas the competition which had over 200 swimmers, was aimed at creating more interest in swimming as a water sport and help discover talents that can represent the country in international championships.

Ibas who was represented by the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command (WNC) Rear Admiral Oladele Daji said Lagos was chosen to host this year’s event to cement the cordiality between the navy and Lagosians.

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“Swimming is synonymous with navy; hence it is a very important activity and recreation for NN personnel,” he said.

“I am proud that past editions have produced national champions who have gone ahead to make the country proud at international championships.

“This large turnout is an indication of the goodwill the Nigerian Navy enjoys from swimming enthusiasts and the wider Nigerian Society.

“Ever since the first edition of this championship was held in Benin City in 2000, it has taken place at various venues in different parts of the country.

“Over the years, several national records have also been set during the CNS championship, with several of them set in 2012, 2013 and 2014 still standing as national records,” he said.