Buhari committed to welfare of naval personnel

Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas has said President Muhammadu Buhari is displaying unflinching commitment to the welfare of naval personnel.
The CNS spoke yesterday at the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, at the inauguration of 120 units of tastefully-furnished accommodation in six blocks, for naval ratings and a remodelled befitting main gate of NNS Pathfinder.
The elaborate event had in attendance Governor Nyesom Wike; Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG) Chief Kenneth Kobani; and chieftains of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP): Chief Sergeant Awuse and Senator Lee Maeba, among others.
The CNS said: “On assumption as CNS, I promulgated the strategic directives to guide the attainment of Nigerian Navy goals in areas considered critical to effectiveness of Nigerian Navy operational, logistics and administrative processes and procedures. Accordingly, the strategic directives outlined key priorities and specific tasks to be accomplished by the branches, commands, establishments, ships and units within specified time-frames. These specific tasks are in the critical areas of operations, fleet renewal, logistics, infrastructural development, human resource management and administration, as well as concepts and organisation.
“Not much can be achieved in this respect, without ensuring adequate welfare for personnel, who are at the forefront in the accomplishment of these set goals. Hence, the attainment of these objectives is central to emplacing a safe and secure maritime regime for Nigeria’s socio-economic development and prosperity.
“The Nigerian Navy’s ability to maintain credible presence at sea does not only depend on platform availability, but also on a well-motivated manpower that is well trained and catered for. Hence, as the CNS, I consider the welfare of personnel a premium and cardinal requirement for attaining greater efficiency in the Nigerian Navy.
“Indeed, such welfare considerations have found expression in free family medical care, quality education and sustained efforts to provide decent accommodation for personnel and their families. In this light, provision of decent accommodation for perssonnel is not considered a luxury, rather an obligation to which I remain committed.”
Wike stated that the CNS had done well and he was proud of him.
He promised that his administration would continue to give navy the necessary support, pointing out that yesterday was his second time of inaugurating projects at the NNS Pathfinder. He urged other security agencies to also emulate the navy in execution of capital-intensive projects.
The Commander of NNS Pathfinder, Commodore Obi Egbuchulam, revealed that the accommodation was initiated and funded by the Rivers government, with support from naval headquarters.