The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Navy

  • Navy to N/Delta indigenes: ‘Desist from illegal activities’

    The Nigerian Navy, yesterday, appealed to the people of the Niger Delta to stay away from piracy, vandalism, kidnapping, oil-related theft and other criminal activities that could tarnish the image of the region.

    The Commanding Officer, Forward Operating Base, Formoso in Brass, Bayelsa State, Captain MayowaOlukoya, spoke during Navy’s free medical rhapsody in Odioma community, Brass Local Government Area of the state.

    The free medical mission, which was held in the community as part of activities commemorating the 61st anniversary of the Nigerian Navy, attracted many indigenes who received treatments for various ailments.

    Olukoya said the selection of Odioma, which lies on the fringes of the Atlantic Ocean, was strategic, adding that it was one of the gestures adopted by the Navy to deepen its relationship with communities.

    Speaking at the event, the Youth President of Odioma, Mr. ForcembrayIniegha, commended the Navy for identifying with them.

    But a representative of the Bayelsa State Governor, Brass Local Government Area, Mr. Andrew Esau, assured the people that the health centre would soon be upgraded to a cottage hospital.

  • Militancy: DHQ hands over training centre to Navy

    Militancy: DHQ hands over training centre to Navy

    To enhance specialised skills of the Armed Forces and other security services, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has handed over the Joint Maritime Security Training Centre (JMSTC) to the Nigerian Navy (NN).

    This move was as a result of the threats to the maritime domain especially the creeks, back waters posed by militants in the Niger Delta and the riverine communities of Lagos and Ogun states.

    Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin while handing over the centre to the NN said it would ensure a more efficient management of maritime assets and capabilities in line with similar institutions such as the United States Naval Small Craft Instruction and Technical Training School (NAVSCIATTS).

    Represented by the Chief of Defence Training and Operations, Maj.-Gen. Ahmed Mohammed, Gen. Olonisakin expressed hope that the JMSTC would become a centre for excellence in maritime security for the West African sub-region.

    He said: “The idea of establishing JMSTC was mooted in the wake of thr increase in sophistication and types of crimes in our maritime domain. It was conceptualised by the DHQ and the British Military Advisory Training Team (BMATT) and the centre was established in 2009 with the mandate of enhancing the human capacity of personnel of the Armed Forces in littoral and riverine operations.

    “It is a unique training institution in the sense that it is the only centre of its kind in Nigeria where security personnel are trained to acquire specialised skills in order to operate in the maritime domain.”

    The CDS said though the centre has done well in the past eight years, a recent assessment conducted by the DHQ showed that for better utilisation, it should be administered and controlled by the NN, which has expertise in maritime matters.

    He said: “It is therefore expected that the NN would ensure the vision of training personnel from other services and security agencies continue woth the same tempo.

    “I strongly believe that the centre would be better repositioned to effectively carryout its duties in line with the objectives of establishing it.

    “The centre was handed over to NN because it is better positioned to control and bring necessary assets within its purview to take it to the next level.

    “Every asset in the centre has been handed over fully to the navy. We expect the navy to review what they have seen on ground. If there are observations and other things they think need to be done to upgrade the centre, they will forward to DHQ for necessary actions.”

    In his remark, the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas, who was represented by the Chief of Training and Operations, Rear Admiral Adeniyi Osinowo said security forces would continue to receive quality training in waterman ship, boars handling, weapon handling and underwater warfare to enable them address challenges in the nation’s wsterways and the creeks.

    Vice Admiral Ibas said plans were on to ensure that access to the training was expanded to accommodate other agencies and services that haven’t had the opportunity.

    He assured the CDS and other stakeholders that the concept would not change, adding that the NN would improve the quality of training to enhance manpower to address contemporary issues.”

    Earlier, the Commandant, JMSTC, Captain Alexander Bingel said over 3,000 military personnel and officials of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) have been trained since the establishment of the centre.

    At the event were the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Admiral Ifeola Mohammed, Chief Staff Officer (CSO), Western Naval Command (WNC) Rear Admiral Thaddeus Udofia, Commander, NNS WEY, Commodore Mohammed Nagenu, Commander, 465 Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Hospital, Air Commodore Benjamin Okunola, and representatives of the British and United States military.

  • Navy trains special forces on counter-terrorism

    The Special Boat Services (SBS) of the Navy at the weekend certified 45 Defence Headquarters’ (DHQ) Special Forces fit for extreme counter-insurgency operations.

    The  personnel were trained on tactical air, land and water combats, fast rope insertion/extraction techniques that would allow them multi-task when deployed in theatres of operations.

    Of the 49 personnel enrolled for the training, three were disqualified for their inability to withstand the rigours and high mental alertness.

    According to the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Admiral Ifeola Mohammed, the Special Forces are a very important unit of the military because they are deployed to clear the ground for regular troops.

    Rear Admiral Mohammed, who was represented by Commodore Samuel Kure, said each officer will execute tasks meant for 10 regular forces in the theatre of operation.

    He said: “These ones are specialised section of the military. They are inserted to carry out a particular task to make a place conducive for the regular forces to move in. Sometimes, they come in to remove someone from the theatre of operation.

    “The special forces are not part of the regular forces. By the nature of their work, they are only called upon anytime there is an operation and once they render their services, they are pulled out.”

    SBS Commander, Commodore Rick Michaels said the insertion and extraction system was established to ensure access into inaccessible terrains.

    “The Special Forces unit is a team of small and highly trained military personnel meant for special operations, conducted in denied, hostile and politically-sensitive environments.

    “In the selection process, we task and push every individual to the limit of their mental and physical tenacity. The moment anyone breaks, we take him out. We don’t compromise. It is either you are with us or not.

    “Apart from the fact that it is a very sharp and leading edge training, we need trainees to be able to catch up fast because the special force has wider latitude of skill than the regular forces.

    “That is why we deploy them in small numbers where one person can do the work of many soldiers. They are supposed to be fast thinkers and very smart. It is a very dangerous training. One small mistake can cause a person his limb or even death.

    “As managers of violence, our job is to take risks. It doesn’t mean that those disqualified are not fit for military jobs; they are fit for their regular jobs and not for the Special Forces, where boys are trained to be men and men turned into flaming warriors ready to go on the tide.

    Acting Commander, NN Airbase, Captain Mustapha Braimah, expressed satisfaction at the demonstration of the graduands, saying he was hopeful they would contain insurgency and armed conflicts.

    Captain Braimah explained that the integration of the NN Air Arm with the SBS was to prepare the Special Forces and build their capacity to meet with every challenge.

  • Cameroonian Navy ship visits Calabar to strengthen maritime relations

    A Cameroonian Navy Ship, CNS Le Ntem, has visited the Eastern Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy in Calabar  to strengthen maritime relationship between the two navies.

    The ship arrived the Nigerian Navy Ship Victory (NNS-Victory) jetty in Calabar on Thursday.

    Briefing newsmen in Calabar, Rear Adm. James Oluwole, Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Eastern Naval Command, said the ship was on a friendly visit to Calabar to strengthen maritime relations.

    According to him, the ship represented the Government of Cameroon in Nigeria, adding that both navies had enjoyed cordial working relationship along the maritime coast over the years.

    The FOC said that the Nigerian Navy, which was saddled with the responsibility of safe-guarding the maritime domain, would not relent in fostering cordial working relationship between both navies.

    “I want to specially salute the efforts of the Cameroonian navy for embarking on this journey with the aim of fostering cordial working relationship.

    “I am seeing this visit as a sign that we want to work together. Over the years, the naval interaction between both navies has improved greatly.

    “Looking at your vessel and the visit, I am very confident that the collaboration will checkmate maritime crime in the Gulf of Guinea and beyond.

    “I can assure you that the Nigerian and Cameroonian Navy will continue to work together to ensure that we deliver on our different roles’’, Oluwole  said.

    Responding, Commanding Officer of CNS Le Ntem, Capt. Mekinda Betrand, said that the friendly visit was to strengthen the maritime relationship between both navies.

    Betrand expressed satisfaction with the operational method of the Nigerian Navy, saying that the Cameroonian navy was happy to have a cordial maritime relationship with their Nigerian counterpart.

    The Cameroonian Counsel in Nigeria, Mr Michel Atamdana, thanked the FOC for the  warm reception of their vessel into Nigeria.

    NAN reports that both navies were thrilled to a cocktail party on Saturday night to celebrate the `National Day of Cameroon’  observed on May 20 every year.

  • Rivers Port, NIMASA synergise to avoid ship delay

    Rivers Port, NIMASA synergise to avoid ship delay

    Mr. Abubakar Umar, the Port Manager at Rivers Port Complex, says there have not been ship delays in the port due to cordial relationship between NIMASA and NPA.

    A statement by NIMASA in Lagos on Friday, said that Umar made the observation during a courtesy visit to the Port Service Comptroller in NIMASA, Mr. Umar Dachia.

    The port manager said that he had not received any complaint about ship delays from shipping agents.

    He said that some challenges at the port included pirates’ attack, which he said, was the immediate responsibility of NIMASA in terms of ensuring safety and security on the waterways.

    Umar, however, said security patrol on the waterways gave ship owners the confidence of doing business in the port without fear of being attacked.

    “Attack on ship is a serious issue that affects the patronage of the port.

    “We will not play with safety and any other thing that has to do with risks. We are always around for cordial relationship,’’ he said.

    Dachia said he appreciated the visit by the port manager and his team, saying that the visit was a sign of respect for NIMASA.

    He said that NIMASA had been trying in terms of security, adding that a platform was established sometime ago with Global West Vessel Specialist Ltd.

    According to him, a Memorandum of Understanding was also entered into with the Navy and both were responding whenever they were called upon.

    Dachia, however, said that the contract with Global West Vessel Specialist had been terminated

    He promised to put his men on the right track to ensure that: “whenever there is a change in documentation concerning ship clearance and operations, the port manager should be given first-hand information’’.

  • Abia charms Umahi, Navy

    Abia charms Umahi, Navy

    Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi and the Navy are the latest visitors to Abia State, the former to gain new technological insights, the other to buy Aba products. SUNNY NWANKWO reports.

    Aba is proving hard to resist. When Vice President Yemi Osinbajo visited the commercial hub early in the year, he found the garments and footwear made in the city amazing, just as we was astonished by the artisans’ industry. Investors have also been pouring in, including a prominent Chinese tycoon who owns a chain of shoemaking factories in China. The visiting businessman had investment on his mind, seeking to team up with Aba shoemakers.

    The Nigerian Naval Headquarters has also dispatched its officers led by Commodore Chris Obinta to Abia State to determine the state’s readiness to supply them with Aba-made footwear and uniforms. The state has also hosted Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi who came with a large team. Governor Umahi said he came to learn from his Abia counterpart Okezie Ikpeazu.

    Umahi’s visit is coming at a time the when the federal government is calling for diversification of the economy and shoring up its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in the face of economic challenges.

    Speaking to newsmen at the Government House Lodge in Aba, Umahi said, “There are so many things to talk about. We are on a working visit and I came with over 25 members of State Executive Council. On arrival, the first thing that we noticed was the neatness of the town. We also noticed tremendous streetlights and while we approached the state capital, we saw a lot of roads.

    “Today we saw the amazing mushroom technology which is the first of its kind in Nigeria. I immediately told my people that it is either we acquire the technology or we steal it. So, we had to video what we saw there. It was quite amazing, I must confess to you.

    “We also saw something that was so amazing to us; the poultry farm. That technology is simple but very effective and I think that is the way to go. These two put together, including other programmes, were all aimed at empowerment of the youths. Any governor that is securing the future of their citizens is the governor for today and tomorrow because if we had this kind of opportunity from our past leaders, by today we should be somewhere. But you can see the state of our nation and I commend Ikpeazu very well because he came on time.

    “We came into Aba, the commercial nerve of Africa where the governor is doing well. At the flag-off of Port Harcourt Road, I told a story of how we used to float on that road back in the 90s during my stay in Aba between 1990 and 1992 as the project engineer of Ndiegoro flood control measures where I came in contact with most of the dilapidated roads within the area then. Today, I’m so excited and shocked with the number of roads that the governor has completed within the two years of his administration. What he is doing at Ariaria sector of this city is quite tremendous and honestly I have been wondering how the problem of erosion and flooding in Aba can be solved. But today, I saw works of ingenuity. For me, the problem of Ariaria, Ndiegoro, Ohanku and Port Harcourt roads are all solved.

    “Amazing also is a number of street roads that he is doing. I have a couple of properties here in Aba, so he is also my governor. I want to commend him very highly. The mighty work he is doing on Faulks Road joining Aba-Owerri Road to Ariaria is tremendous. Time will fail us to talk about the number of roads that he is doing, but I think he is being too quiet about what he is doing. We also went to the PPP Centre (Abia Investment House). My people are coming; we have investment companies, so that they will understudy that. Another area we are also understudying is IGR. We have about 14-man committee that will interface and study Abia IGR system. I am personally going to understudy the mushroom technology because I don’t want to toy with that.

    “I am so amazed with the quality of dresses that are made in Aba; of course 90 per cent of my dresses are made in Aba. I want to commend the governor for the shoes, the bags and facilities for the law enforcement agents. This is wonderful. The governor told me that he is going to partner with private industries and to make sure that those that have gone moribund will be revitalised. So, your guess of what will be the impact of this to the economy of the state when this happens is as good as mine.”

    Governor Ikpeazu said his government was ready to partner the Nigerian Navy in its efforts to bolster the made-in-Aba products which the administration has championed for nearly two years. Ikpeazu said this when the naval delegation paid him a courtesy visit at the Governor’s Lodge in Aba, adding that he was happy with the Navy’s swift response to his appeal to look inwards for its kits.

    “Since the past one year, the state has been engaged in promoting made-in-Aba and made in Nigeria products,” Ikpeazu said, adding that as far as he was concerned, made-in-Aba is bigger than this geographical entity called Aba. ”It is a philosophy and a key paradigm to drive the desire of Nigerians to the buy Nigeria, enjoy Nigeria and live Nigeria.”

    Speaking further, he said, “We believe strongly that patronage and demand drive perfection. Incidentally, the leather and shoe industry as well as garment industry have existed for so many years and even the World Bank acknowledges that at least one million pairs of shoes leave the shores of Nigeria through the Abia window on a weekly basis, it’s a no mean feat”.

    Ikpeazu told the Navy delegation: “We don’t want to shortchange ourselves again, and to the glory of God, we have it in our minds that to compliment the efforts of Mr. President, we proudly label our products made-in-Nigeria.”

    He said he sees the navy as a strategic partner not only in the protection of lives and property but also in economic development of the country, adding that if the navy patronises made-in-Aba and made-in-Nigeria, it will go a long way to enhance the confidence of artisans in the trade.

    He assured the delegation that his administration was very serious about making Abia and Aba a hub for leather and garment manufacturing not only in Nigeria, but in Africa.

    “While we were in China, we were able to reach an understanding that automated production lines will be established worth $1.5b in our environment. As I speak, I’m happy to announce that I will be in Lagos to welcome a foreign partner that will sharpen our skills in shoemaking. I know that they will learn a lot of things from our shoemakers in Aba because the creativity and craftsmanship of our shoemakers here is about the best all over the world.

    “This is our opportunity to put our skills side by side with the best of the world and tell them that indeed we are the best.”

    Commodore Obinta, leader of the delegation, said they came to discuss with the governor on how Abia State will partner the navy in terms of trade especially the made-in-Aba shoes and other products. He said they would go round the state to see things for themselves and look at the goods the Navy would be able to purchase for its personnel.

  • Militancy: DHQ handovers Joint Maritime Training Centre to Navy

    Militancy: DHQ handovers Joint Maritime Training Centre to Navy

    …To improve specialised skills of security forces

    In order to enhance specialised skills of the Armed Forces and other security services, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) Thursday handed over the Joint Maritime Security Training Centre (JMSTC) to the Nigerian Navy (NN).

    This move was as a result of the threats to the maritime domain especially the creeks, back waters posed by militants in the Niger Delta and the riverine communities of Lagos and Ogun states.

    Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin while handing over the centre to the NN said it would ensure a more efficient management of maritime assets and capabilities in line with similar institutions such as the United States Naval Small Craft Instruction and Technical Training School (NAVSCIATTS).

    Represented by the Chief of Defence Training and Operations, Maj.-Gen. Ahmed Mohammed, Olonisakin expressed hope that the JMSTC would become a centre for excellence in maritime security for the West African sub-region.

    “The idea of establishing JMSTC was mooted in the wake of thr increase in sophistication and types of crimes in our maritime domain. It was conceptualised by the DHQ and the British Military Advisory Training Team (BMATT) and the centre was established in 2009 with the mandate of enhancing the human capacity of personnel of the Armed Forces in littoral and riverine operations.

    “It is a unique training institution in the sense that it is the only centre of its kind in Nigeria where security personnel are trained to acquire specialised skills in order to operate in the maritime domain.”

    Continuing, the CDS said though the centre has done well in the past eight years, a recent assessment conducted by the DHQ showed that for better utilisation, it should be administered and controlled by the NN, which has expertise in maritime matters.

    He said: “It is therefore expected that the NN would ensure the vision of training personnel from other services and security agencies continue woth the same tempo.
    “I strongly believe that the centre would be better repositioned to effectively carryout its duties in line with the objectives of establishing it.

    “The centre was handed over to NN because it is better positioned to control and bring necessary assets within its purview to take it to the next level.

    “Every asset in the centre has been handed over fully to the navy.  We expect the navy to review what they have seen on ground. If there are observations and other things they think need to be done to upgrade the centre, they will forward to DHQ for necessary actions.”

    In his remark, the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas who was represented by the Chief of Training and Operations, Rear Admiral Adeniyi Osinowo assured that security forces would continue to receive quality training in waterman ship, boars handling, weapon handling and underwater warfare to enable them address challenges in the nation’s wsterways and the creeks.

    Ibas said plans were on to ensure that access to the training was expanded to accommodate other agencies and services that haven’t had the opportunity.
    He assured the CDS and other stakeholders that the concept would not change, adding that the NN would improve the quality of training to enhance manpower to address contemporary issues.”

    Earlier, the Commandant, JMSTC, Captain Alexander Bingel said over 3,000 military personnel and officials of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) have been trained since the establishment of the centre.

    At the event were the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC) Rear Admiral Ifeola Mohammed, Chief Staff Officer (CSO) Western Naval Command (WNC) Rear Admiral Thaddeus Udofia, Commander, NNS WEY, Commodore Mohammed Nagenu, Commander, 465 Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Hospital, Air Commodore Benjamin Okunola, and representatives of the British and United States military.

  • Navy pledges to fight malaria

    Navy pledges to fight malaria

    The Nigerian Navy has to pledged their support in the fight against malaria in the country.

    Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) of the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) in Calabar, Rear Admiral James Oluwole, who declared this support during a lecture to mark their Second Quarter Health Awareness Week pointed out that available record shows that one child dies every two minutes, and most of the cases were in sub-Saharan Africa, Nigeria inclusive.

    He said globally, 3.3billion people in 106 countries are at risk of malaria.

    The health week, which had as its theme “End Malaria for Good”, coincided with the World Malaria Day (WMD).

    He said the Command decided to key into the WMD and educate personnel in its Area of Responsibility (AOR) on malaria.

    The FOC said in line with the Nigerian Navy’s priority on health, the ENC through its health facilities routinely carries out activities that will promote healthy living among naval personnel and civilian staff under the command.

    Dr Mbang Kooffreh-Ada of the Department of Internal Medicine, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), presented a lecture on the topic “Malaria Prevention Works: Let’s Close the Gap and End Malaria for Good.”

    Kooffreh-Ada said 97 per cent of Nigeria’s population is at risk of the disease.

    She said malaria is the leading cause of child death in the country, resulting in 250,000 children dying annually.

    “Malaria also accounts for 60 per cent of outpatient visits, 30 per cent of hospitalizations, 11 per cent of maternal mortality, and 10 per cent of low birth weight incidences,” she said.

  • Navy nabs Nigerian, nine foreigners for ‘oil theft’

    The Navy says it has nabbed 10 suspected oil thieves onboard MT TECNE Vessel in Delta State.

    The Commander of NNS Delta, Commodore Ibrahim Dewu, spoke yesterday while parading the suspects at Focados River, Burutu Local Government.

    They are one Nigerian, two Pakistanis, three Ghanaians, an Indonésian, a Béninois and two Ukrainians.

    Dewu said the suspects were caught on Tuesday while siphoning crude into a vessel from Afremo A Platform, a loading jacket belonging to Shell Petroleum and Development Company (SPDC) at Forcados River.

    He said they had siphoned about 2,000 metric tonnes of crude from the loading jacket before they were caught.

    The commander said the feat was the outcome of “Operation Delta Safe”, “Operation River Sweep Two” and Operation Tsare Teku” mandates of the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS).

    He said the Navy would check illegalities in the maritime domain.

    Dewu advised oil companies with loading jackets to monitor their platforms.

    “Most of the oil companies have service boats, so they should watch these jackets day and night,” he said.

    Dewu said the suspects and vessel would be handed over to the prosecuting agency after investigation.

    The Nigerian among the suspects said he joined TECNE in 2016, adding that he was directed by a man, Victor, to load crude from the jacket.

    The captain of the ship said he was not aware their action was illegal.

    “We came to load here. I don’t know it is unofficial, I don’t know it is illegal bunkering. We load at night for three days. This is my first time,” he said.

  • Navy destroys boats, petroleum products in Anambra

    Navy destroys boats, petroleum products in Anambra

    The Nigeria Naval Outpost in Onitsha, Anambra State, has destroyed two boats with petroleum products, warning perpetrators to desist or face prosecution.
    Commander Navy Capt. Mohammed Dahiru, who briefed reporters yesterday, said the illegal products were intercepted last December along the River Niger waterways.
    He said the destruction was done two days ago in the presence of other security agencies including the Army, police, Department of State Services (DSS), among others.
    “We warn illegal operators within River Niger to have a rethink as it would no longer be tolerated. I will continue to go after them, and I will get them, especially now that our capability has been boosted by the naval authority.
    “My officers and men have intensified routine patrols, including fixed station, stop and search. For those using or want to use the River Niger waterways for legitimate activities, they are assured of adequate protection,” the commander said.
    Capt. Dahiru lauded the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Ibok Ibas, for providing the Naval Outpost Onitsha with good working and accommodation environment, and Governor Willie Obiano for his support.