The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Flag Officer Commanding

  • Medals, laurels for naval operatives at swimming competition

    The Central Naval Command (CNC) of the Nigerian Navy recently reminded its personnel of the importance of swimming skills to their survival, especially in the Niger Delta.

    Undoubtedly, swimming is the basic skill required in the Navy and it is expected that anybody working for the security outfit must be a good swimmer.

    Therefore, the CNC decided to organise a swimming competition to ensure that the officers and ratings had not forgotten their major survival skill.

    It was a three-day competition. Almost everybody participated in the exercise. They were divided into various teams to compete for laurels in the exercise that took place in Yenagoa, the state capital.

    Indeed, it was a test of proficiency. Also, swimming is now a compulsory requirement for promotion. So, each team struggled to outdo other men and women from the various formations as they showcased their skills.

    But at the end, Team Delta emerged the overall winner with 12 gold medals, five silver medals and one bronze medal. Team CNC took second position with five silver medals and two bronze medals.

    In his speech at the closing ceremony, Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) CNC, Real Admiral Saidu Garba, said the event was essentially to develop naval personnel’s competence and efficiency in operations.

    He said: “Essentially, the Central Naval Command and the NN has always sought to develop personnel competence and capacities for efficiency in operations.

    “The high competitive spirit witnessed in the last three days clearly demonstrates our personnel high spirit and ability. We have greatly looked forward to today when the competition would be rounded off.

    “I appreciate the support of the Bayelsa State Ministry of Sport, our friends in the sister services and other security agencies throughout the course of this competition.

    “Today’s event will definitely not have been a reality without your massive supports that the command has been enjoying.

    “All the men are from the Central Naval Command. The idea is to bring out all our personnel so that we will get the best out of them and hopefully we are looking forward to an inter-command swimming championship.

    “We are already picking our best swimmers, who will represent us during that championship. What we have come to do is just to sieve our best players and our best swimmers among them in the command.

    “Swimming, for us, is not just sport and competition. Swimming for us is survival asset. We operate in the maritime domain which means we are surrounded by water.

    “The Chief of Naval Staff has emphasised the need for all naval personnel to learn how to swim, so that they will be able to survive in case of an accident in the water or to operate effectively within the maritime domain.

    “Not only that it is now a compulsory asset or criteria for promotion, For our junior officers, they will be expected to meet up a minimum swimming standard before they are promoted.

    “Swimming competition is an annual thing. Apart from the intra-command swimming championship which we have just held, we are now going to have an inter-command swimming championship for the entire Navy where all of us will gather in a designated place to compete.

    “I am hoping that among the boys and girls that we have seen swim today, am sure we are going to get champions that will represent the command.”

    Also speaking, the guest of honour, Air Vice-Marshall Peter Uzezi, reiterated the value of physical fitness, saying it was one of the essential ingredients to be a soldier.

    He praised the Central Naval Command for organising such a huge competition, adding that the competition compelled the personnel to know themselves and allowed the command to know the level of fitness of its men.

    Highpoint of the event was the presentation of medals and trophies to deserving athletes and the overall winners.

  • Navy commander bows out in style, warns against partisanship

    The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Logistics Command, Rear Admiral Akinirade Akinjide has bowed out of the command in style. He was redeployed by the Nigerian Navy recently. He is replaced by Rear Admiral Uchenna Onyia.

    While Onyia took over the logistic command in a brief handover ceremony, Akinjide flew to the Defence Headquarters, Abuja to assume a new role as the Director of Training. The outgoing FOC spent about eight months at the Oghara command.

    However, the amiable officer will continue to be remembered for his outstanding performance. He maintained a healthy relationship with the Oghara host communities of the navy. Stakeholders in the communities also hailed him for identifying with their needs. In fact, they were thrilled by medical outreaches he took to some of the communities.

    The officers and ratings in the command will not forget Akinjide in a hurry. He transformed their barracks and made their work easy. In fact, they refereed to his as a gentleman officer.

    So, the senior officers gathered to bid the outgoing officer farewell. But he left them with food for thought. Akinjide reminded them of the political season and the temptation to be partisan. He warned them against taking sides with politicians in activities leading to the 2019 general elections.

    Akinjide urged the personnel to be mindful of their constitutional duties in the build up to the elections. He told them the temptation to throw professionalism overboard will begin in the forthcoming primaries of political parties.

    He said: “As the 2019 election approaches with the party primaries scheduled for September, l urge all of you to be mindful of our constitutional responsibilities and refrain from acts that could be construed as being partisan.

    “You are advised to stick to the guidelines that will be promulgated by the Naval Headquarters that will guide our participation in the electoral process”.

    He said the command recorded modest achievements under his leadership especially in the areas of fleet maintenance, logistics support and infrastructural development.

    He said the command also made tremendous efforts to support all operations to end crude oil theft and other maritime crimes.

    “These efforts have ensured a relatively safe maritime environment for economic activities to thrive thereby ensuring national security. The command is also involved in the movement of logistic assets to Operation Lafiya Dole in the North East.

    “The command initiated the compilation of ship maintenance data,” he said.

    Akinjide said the command ensured regular and timely supply of petroleum, oil and lubricant requirements to naval ships and other naval establishments; prompt distribution uniform materials and accoutrements.

     

  • Navy rescues sick, infirm persons in Delta

    The Nigerian Navy Logistics Command Oghara, Delta State, recently rolled out a free medical mission within its host community. The gesture was not ordinary. About 500 persons benefitted from it.

    In fact, the beneficiaries described the event as a life saver. To them, the command led by its Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Rear Admiral Akinjide Akinrinade, was on a rescue mission. Hitherto, many of them suppressed and managed their sicknesses for lack of money to buy drugs and visit hospitals.

    Therefore, it was with delight that crowd of persons trooped to the Civic Centre, Oghara Junction to partake in the Navy’s medical mission. The command brought loads of assorted drugs and hired the services of qualified medical personnel to listen to the complaints of the people and proffer solutions to their health challenges.

    The intervention among other things covered malaria treatments, laboratory investigations, deworming and distribution of mosquito-treated nets. Indeed, the beneficiaries happily showered encomiums on the Navy.

    Akinrinade, who was represented by the Chief Staff Officer, Rear Admiral Mike Okonkwo said the medical mission was part of the navy’s corporate social responsibility towards strengthening civil-military relations in host communities.

    He said the command in the past conducted similar interventions in many communities on rotational basis. He urged the communities to cooperate with the Navy and advised persons with intents to commit crime to turn a new leaf. The FOC said the command was equipped to deal with criminal elements.

    “Such individuals are advised to have a rethink and redirect their efforts to noble profitable ventures to their benefits and that of the nation”, he said adding that the command engaged in the medical rhapsody as part of the directive of the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice-Admiral Ibok Ibas.

    According to Akinrinade, the CNS wants to ensure that the society is healthy and free of crimes to achieve economic prosperity without fear of intimidation or threat to lives and properties. He commended the leaders and people of Oghara for identifying with the 2018 Nigerian Navy Week celebration and for accepting the free medical services.

    In his remarks, the Command’s Medical Officer, Capt. Aderonke Bello, said the rhapsody was part of activities lined up for the Navy Week. “The free medical care is a means by which the Nigerian Navy reaches out to the people in their host communities with medical care and support”, he said.

    He said the medical mission covered treatments on wide range of diseases. He further told the crowd that the Naval Medical Centre in the area was open for their medical care and treatments.

    Most of the residents, who benefitted from the medical mission, denied the Navy describing the gesture as timely. A native of Oghara, Hope Abijo said he was grateful especially considering other projects executed by the navy in different parts of the community.

    Abijo said: “I am indeed thankful to the Navy. They have done water projects and they have done other projects in different parts of Oghara. I appeal to our people to be peaceful. It is only when a community is peaceful that it will receive good things”.

    Also, Chief Bina who represented the traditional ruler of Oghara said the community had over the years enjoyed good relationship with the Navy. He commended the gesture but asked the command to do more for the community.

    A beneficiary, Patience Akoko, said she was particularly happy with the malaria treatment component of the medical mission. Others like John Abijo said the mosquito nets would go a long way to prevent malaria.

  • Commander lists achievements in Niger Delta

    Commander lists achievements in Niger Delta

    Friends, who gathered to bid him farewell, described the period of Rear Admiral Abubakar Al-Hassan as the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Central Naval Command (CNC) as short but eventful.

    Al-Hassan is no longer the FOC. His exit from the command located in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, was celebrated. The former FOC, who has been transferred to the Defence Headquarters, Abuja as Director of Transformation is succeeded by Rear Admiral Saleh Usman.

    But from the Officers’ Mess where a send-off party was held in Al-Hassan’s honour to the handover ceremonies and parades, the former commander was the centre of attraction.

    His scorecard spoke volume of why a commander, who spent only seven months in his duty post received standing ovation. In his address, he said: “Today, marks the end of my tour of duty as the flag officer commanding, Central Naval Command, a journey that started seven months ago.

    “On assumption of office, I settled down immediately for the challenges of the office. I must tell you that the command employed strategies that gave rise to continuous engagement with communities  to curtail criminalities and illegalities particularly within our Area of Responsibility (AOR)”.

    He listed the results of his efforts.  Between July 17, 2017 and January 18, 2018, the command seized and destroyed over 900,000 metric tones comprising Automative Gas Oil (AGO), Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) and crude oil. The command also destroyed over 712 illegal refinery camps.

    Also, over 100 wooden and power-driven boats engaged in illegalities were either seized or destroyed. He said the successes were attained through sustained patrols at sea and within the backwaters as well as the conduct of exercises and operations.

    Al-Hassan recalled the success story of one of the naval exercises codenamed Operation Octopus Grip, which was launched in October last year. He said the operation had so far had yielded tremendous results including the rescue of MT Interim from pirate attack on 1 Nov 17.

    He said the command recorded over 25,000 hours of boat patrols within creeks and waterways between July and Jan 18. He said the command also registered remarkable improvement in the provision of facilities as interventions to complement the efforts of the Naval Headquarters.

    “These are in the areas of sporting facilities, clean and hygienic drinking water, upgrade of messing facilities, remodeling of offices and accommodations.

    “Many more projects have already been initiated one of which was the ground breaking ceremony for Ratings Arrival Hall on 19 Jan 2018. These have no doubt motivated the officers and ratings of the command towards the attainment of it’s mandate especially by providing security in the maritime space of the CNC”, he said.

    He acknowledge the unalloyed support of officers, ratings, civilian staff and members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) posted to the command for working tirelessly to ensure focus adding that without their commitment, the command’s efforts would have amounted to nothing.

    Al-Hassan further commended the governments of Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo,  and Kogi states for their support in providing facilities and logistics for the command’s operations.  He recognized the roles of the traditional rulers in ensuring their communities supported the command’s activities.

    “This address will be incomplete without acknowledging my utmost gratitude to the Chief of the Naval Staff for giving me the opportunity to contribute my quota to nation building in this capacity. I must appreciate his occasional push which guided me throughout my period as the Flag Officer Commanding”, he said.

    He charged the personnel to remain disciplined and more committed to ensure the safety and security of the maritime environment in the Central Naval Command. He insisted that the freedom of the seas and waterways would contribute to the economic prosperity of the country as contained in the Chief of the Naval Staff’s Strategic Directive.

    He employed them to give maximum support to the incoming FOC and advised them to cope with differences in individual styles of leadership.

    Speaking further, he said: “As you know, the nation economic centre of gravity falls within the operational domain of the Nigerian Navy, making the Navy a vital driver, guardian and enabler for Nigerian economic aspirations.”

     

     

     

  • Navy assures community on security

    The new Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC) Rear Admiral Obi Ofodile has lifted the spirits of residents of an Abia State community in which the navy’s training school is located.

    Admiral Ofodile told people of Owerrinta in Isialangwa South Local Government Area of the state that apart from its regular duties, the navy will also provide security for the community and its environs. Before the training school was established in the community, criminals terrorised residents. The ordeal abated when the school took off.

    Ofodile assured navy personnel and host community within and around the Navy School of Finance and Logistics Owerrinta of the total support of the naval headquarters.

    The FOC who just took office is on tour of the facilities under his command to ascertain where they have challenges.

    Speaking while touring the Navy school Owerrinta, Admiral Ofodile told the students, officers, men and members of the host community including their traditional ruler that the navy apart from the normal duties are bound to do security duties.

    Admiral Ofodile said that naval headquarters has equipped all commands so that they could always go beyond their normal duty of policing the waterways to include security duties and urged them not to relent in ensuring security of live and property of their host community and state.

    He said, “All naval establishments across the country have always been given whatever they require to join forces with other sister security agencies in any place they find themselves to combat heinous crimes”.

    The FOC commended the school and its officers and men for the wonderful way they have been helping the state government and their host community to ensure that crime rate in the state is brought to the lowest level.

    Admiral Ofodile also commended the host community for being good host to the school and its people, saying, “I have been told of the wonderful working relationship between you people and the school and I want to urge all parties to continue in that direction”.

    He told the students that he was on a tour of facilities under his command which he said is normal for a man in a new position, “I have already read the handover note, now on tour to see things for myself after which I will compare notes with what I have read”.

    The FOC said, “I want to commend the commandant and instructors in the school as it is not easy to be a teacher at any level even as the atmosphere may not be the best, yet am happy that everyone is coping very well”.

    Admiral Ofodile urged the students to make good use of the opportunity they are being offered at the school to improve themselves as it will benefit them and the navy in general, adding that whatever they are being taught will come in handy one day.

    He thanked the commandant of the school, Navy Captain Abdulahi Aminu for the wonderful work he has been doing in the navy school which has gone a long way to improve the standard of the students posted to learn there.

    Earlier in his welcome address, the commandant of the school, Capt Aminu told his new boss that the school apart from learning and teaching, “We have been doing our best in the area of security in both Abia and Imo states”,

    Capt Aminu said that their security work in the two sister states Abia the host state and Imo their neighboring state has gone a long way in ensuring that live and property in the two states are secured as well as reduce heinous crimes.

    He said that the school is operating national diploma in various financial and accounting disciplines, adding that they have been partnering with professional bodies like ICAN and others to improve the standard of the students.

    The commandant who briefed the FOC on the achievements of the college said that facilities have been improved upon with the aim of bringing them up to the standard of such world known colleges and also to the taste of the naval authorities.

    He said, “Some of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) projects which have been abandoned in the school for up to five years have been revived as the contractors are now back to site as some of them have been completed and will be inaugurated soon”.

    Capt Aminu said that they have been having a cordial relationship with their host community as they have always extended free medical care to them and those communities in Imo state which are close by.

    He said, “The school has extended potable water across the road for the members of the immediate host community to enable them have water as well as help in reducing water-borne diseases from getting to the people. “

    The commandant said that their challenges include lack of adequate accommodation for their staff, shortage of vehicles, construction of ring road within the school, erratic power supply among many others and called on the naval headquarters to come to their aide.