The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ibok-Ette Ibas

  • Navy arrests six Cameroonians smuggling contraband rice into Calabar

    Men of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Victory in Cross River State have arrested six Cameroonians smuggling 700 bags of parboiled foreign rice into the country through the Calabar Channel.

    Also arrested with the Cameroonians, who were in the country without requisite papers, were seven Nigerians, working with them.

    Commander, NNS Victory, Commodore Julius Nwagu, who handed over the illegal immigrants to the Nigeria Immigration Service, and the seized rice and Nigerians to the Nigerian Customs Service, at the NNS Victory jetty in Calabar, said the contraband was worth about N11.2 million.

    “These six Cameroonians got involved in the smuggling of the parboiled rice and they entered into Nigeria without the requisite papers thereby violating the Immigrations Laws in Nigeria and that is why I invited the Immigration to hand him over while the Nigeria Customs Service will take over the rice and the other Nigerians who are involved in the smuggling.

    Read Also: MTN Pulse campus invasion excites Calabar

    “Christmas is coming and people want to make quick money by smuggling in rice into the country but the Nigerian Navy is hell bent on ensuring that the Federal Government on ban on importation of parboiled rice into the country is upheld.

    “We would never allow it as a service, and under the able leadership of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas, we will not leave any stone unturned in ensuring that our policing roles are upheld and we have the available platforms to patrol the waters, especially in the Eastern flank here,” Nwagu said.

    Assistant Comptroller of Immigration in charge of the Marine Unit, Tsumba Terna, who received the Cameroonians, said anyone entering Nigeria must have the requisite papers.

    He said they would be dealt with according to laid down procedures to handle such situations.

    A Superintendent of Customs, Akpan Ime Edet, also said the rice would be transferred to government warehouse, while the Nigeria suspects would face prosecution.

  • Defence Minister snubs journalists after three hours wait

    Defence Minister snubs journalists after three hours wait

    The Minister for Defence, Brigadier Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali (rtd) on Thursday night snubbed reporters after keeping them waiting for over three hours.

    Dan-Ali, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the Nigerian Navy (NN) Ceremonial Sunset/variety night, had promised reporters who approached him for interview around 7pm, to be patient and allow him break his fast.

    Obliging the Minister, all the journalists at the event mustered at a spot close to the conference room at the Naval Dockyard Limited, Victoria Island, waiting for Dan-Ali.

    But the Minister, who came out of the hall around 10:20pm, marched straight towards his Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), refusing to honour his earlier promise.

    All efforts to get Dan-Ali to realise his action was unfair yielded no results, as he laughed it off and made entered his vehicle using “tiredness” as excuse.

    As he was entering his vehicle, Dan-Ali referred the reporters to the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Ibok-Ette Ibas, who he said, was the chief host of the event and so, should be the one to speak with journalists.

     

  • Navy needs $250m to refit NNS ARADU

    The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Adm. Ibok-Ette Ibas, says the Nigerian Navy needs 250 million dollars to refit its war ship, NNS ARADU, for maritime operations.

    Ibas, however, told journalists at the navy’s 61stanniversary celebrations in Lagos on Thursday that refitting NNS ARADU was not an option for now.

    “To refit NNS ARADU, the nation would need over 250 million dollars and that is not what the navy can afford for now.

    “We desire to have the ship at sea but as soon as the navy is properly funded, we should be able to refit that vessel and have it at sea,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NNS ARADU is one of the three ships in the world with capabilities for simultaneous anti-air, anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare.

    The ship also has capability for electronic warfare and naval fire support.

    Ibas said that the Federal Government had provided a lot for the navy but the navy still needed more.

    “We all understand that the navy is an important service that protects the nation’s maritime resources and needs to be given special consideration.

    “A lot has been provided for the navy in a certain way so we have to work out other strategies to ensure that we are able to carry out our mandate,” he said.

    According to him, the nation has faced a lot of ups and downs following series of attacks on national security infrastructure in the last few years.

    “The consequences of which resulted to the drop in the nation’s revenue coming from oil but it was perfectly restored and we were able to contain the menace with the dedicated taskforce.

    “To that extent, we have been able to provide the needed security at sea and we were able to contain the menace of militants and keep them away.

    “This is in addition to the dialogue initiated by the Federal Government.

    “You are also conversant with the issue of piracy, which the navy has been able to contain with our credible presence at sea,” he said.

    Ibas added that in the last two years, the navy got some boats which were inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “This is in addition to various infrastructural logistics and welfare to the officers and men,” the CNS said.

    The CNS condemned the bloody clash between navy and police men in Cross River, stating that the incident was being probed to bring the perpetrators to book.

     

  • Nigerian Navy repositioning for enhanced operational efficiency – CNS

    Nigerian Navy repositioning for enhanced operational efficiency – CNS

    The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Adm. Ibok-Ette Ibas, on Wednesday said the Nigerian Navy was being repositioned for enhanced operational efficiency in light of the emerging security threats in the nation’s maritime space.

    Ibas said this at a seminar organised for naval personnel to celebrate the Navy’s 61st anniversary.

    The naval chief, who was represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Adm. Ferguson Bobai, said the process would encompass the development of lasting policies and strategies that would position the service for enhanced operational efficiency and attitudinal change.

    “Human resource constitutes the most important asset for the Navy for performing its constitutional and emerging roles.

    “It is against this backdrop that the theme “Repositioning Nigerian Navy for Operational Efficiency through Human Capacity Development and Attitudinal Change’’ was conceptualised.

    “One of the emerging concepts in this rapidly changing world is the recognition of the human factor as the major and pre-eminent factor in achieving results for organisation, military forces and countries.

    “It is noteworthy that the Navy has evolved in the last 61 years from a constabulary Navy with 11 assorted ships and crafts with about 200 personnel to a full-fledged navy.

    “We are now capable of executing the dimensions of warfare as well as provide auxiliary services.

    “Hence, optimal human resource management and continuous development has been pivotal to the success achieved so far in the implementation of our roles.

    “The ever changing dynamics of maritime operations and security have continued to impose enormous challenges on the Nigerian Navy.

    “It is safe to assume that the current economic situation in the country necessitates prudence in managing material and human resources,” he said.

    The CNS said that part of his key priorities since assuming office was to promote the Navy’s manpower development to achieve optimal professional capacity of personnel.

    He said that the force had commenced accreditation and affiliation of its professional schools to internationally-recognised bodies.

    “Thus, this seminar is aimed at enhancing the navy’s human resources management and administration in line with my Strategic Directives.

    “It is geared towards further enlightening and educating personnel on issues bordering on attitudinal change, administration and work ethics,’’ Ibas said.

    Earlier, Rear Adm. Ifeola Mohammed, the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), in his welcome address, said the Navy under Ibas placed special premium on enhancing capacity development.

    “Human resources form a vital component of any organisation; thus, seminars such as this underscore the importance of developing the capacity of the human resource.

    “The Navy is currently engaged in several security, social and human development activities.

    “These are aimed at ensuring stability, security and economic prosperity of Nigeria, as well as supporting better living condition of the larger society, within which the Navy is a subset,’’ Mohammed said.

    He said that this nation building effort was being pursued rigorously with unwavering vigour under the visionary leadership provided by the Chief of Naval Staff.