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Tag: Navy

  • Navy leads sister agencies on 10km march

    Navy leads sister agencies on 10km march

    IN a show of strength, the Nigerian Navy (NN) on Saturday morning led other security agencies in Lagos on a 10km march.

    The exercise tagged “Third Quarter Route March”, commenced at the headquarters, Naval Training Command  (NAVTRAC) by6am and lasted two hours.

    It saw hundreds of security personnel comprising the Army, AirForce, Police, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps  (NSCDC), Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, marched from the naval base to Costain and back.

    Addressing participants at the end of the exercise, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) NAVTRAC, Rear Admiral Ifeola Mohammed said the exercise was to reemphasise the dedication of security operatives to selfless service.

    He said that they wanted Nigerians to be assured that security agencies were fit and willing to at all times, defend the peace and stability of the country.

    According to him, the exercise also aimed at testing the physical and mental alertness of the personnel, adding that route marches in the Armed Forces were organised to portray the readiness of the personnel to defend the people during war and peace times.

    He said: “Throughout the route march, there was no molestation and no attempt to put down any civilian. That is a demonstration of our respect and loyalty to the Nigerian people.”

    Urging security personnel to shun acts of indiscipline and unprofessional conducts, Mohammed said they should be guided by their strength of character and perseverance in all they do.

     

  • Navy, corps member take medical rhapsody to Bayelsa community, IDPs

    Gwegwe community and the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camping at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, were recently given a reason to smile.

    The Central Naval Command (CNC) of the Nigerian Navy and a corps member, Dr. IniAbasi Bassey, who discharges her primary assignment at the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe (ODS), visited them at separate occasions with lots of care and love.

    While the Navy headed for Gwegwe, the corps member went to the IDP’s camp. In fact the residents of Gwegwe in Ovom, Yenagoa, were surprised at the medical mission of the navy.

    The Flag Officer Commanding CNC, Rear Admiral Mohammed Garba, personally led the medical mission to the community. To show the importance he attached to the health of his host, Garba brought most of the senior officers in his command including the Chief of Staff of the command, Rear Admiral Akinjide Akinrinade to the community.

    Residents felt honoured by the presence of Garba, whose achievements within a short period he took over the command in an era of militancy, resounded in their ears. The navy brought cartons of drugs and mobilised qualified doctors to the community to identify and treat common sicknesses.

    The Paramount Ruler of Ovom, HRH Mathias Obele was excited at the gesture of the navy. He immediately sent words round Gwegwe community asking the residents to turn out en masse to benefit from military generosity. Obele also invited members of his council of Chiefs to receive Garba and his team.

    Within a short time, Garba arrived and headed straight for the humble palace of the Ijaw king. The Chiefs and their king were happy to behold Obele identifying with them. The Naval boss told them that the programme was borne out of the desire of the military to tackle health problems plaguing its host communities.

    He said the CNC has been visiting communities within its Area of Responsibility (AoR) for medical missions. He named some of the communities that had benefited from the gesture and said the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) was in support of the programme.

    He said through the programme, the navy gets closer to and establishes links with the people for effective resolution of common security problems. He said the programme was part of strategic directive to work with local communities and stakeholders to achieve government’s collective mandate.

    Garba had another message for them. He said: “Nigeria belongs to Nigerians. We are part and parcel of the society. We are all Nigerians and Nigeria belongs to Nigerians. We must make sure we protect this country.

    “This is one of the ways to reduce tension by reaching out to people. It is easy to solve problem when you reach out to people.”

    Garba later told residents who gathered to benefit from the medical outreach that the military especially the Navy cared for the people of the region. He appealed to them not to view every naval personnel as hostile and bloodthirsty describing the Navy as caring and humane.

    Indeed, the Ijaw king and his council of chiefs were elated. Obele, playing the Oliver Twist, also asked the navy to consider employing some of the indigenes of Ovom. He reminded the navy that one of their bases, NNS SOROH, is located within the community.

    For the IDPs, the intervention of the youth corps member, Dr. Bassey was a big relief. Their condition was pathetic as they suffered various ailments without money to buy required drugs. The IDPs were mostly victims of the violence that marred the last governorship election in the state.

    So, when they saw Bassey with cartons of drugs and mosquito nets, they leaped up in joy. They sang, danced and described the young lady as God-sent. Bassey said she was moved by pity after she visited the camp and saw the terrible living condition of the IDPs.

    She said: “When I was told there are IDPs here, I went to visit them. The children were malnourished and the general standard of living there was very poor. So, I was moved to help them by doing something about their health because health is wealth.”

    “It is my personal community development service. I donated some drugs and relief items to them. You can see that the people came out in their numbers and we had a health talk.

    “I donated drugs for malaria treatment because of the pandemic nature of malaria. I gave them analgesic, antibiotics and supplements. In fact, I have given them lots of drugs. I gave them over 100 mosquito-treated nets”.

    The corps member, who hails from Akwa Ibom State said she solicited funds from people to undertake the project. She said with more assistance she would do more to help in solving some problems in the state.

    Bassey said she was already working on another community development service following some pressing needs she identified in one of the community schools in Yenagoa.

    In fact, most of the IDPs thanked the corps member for her intervention describing her as a problem solver.

     

     

  • Navy in Rivers trains 45 students

    Navy in Rivers trains 45 students

    The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Rivers State has trained 45 students, aged between 5 and 15 years, in golf to represent the country in future championships.

    The Base Operations Officer of NNS Pathfinder, Navy Capt. Victor Choji, at the closing ceremony of the maiden Children Golf Holiday Championship in Port Harcourt, stated that the benefiting students of primary and secondary schools, were drawn from various communities in Rivers state.

    Choji disclosed that the championship was organised to achieve three purposes: maintaining and improving civil-military relations; boosting security and discovery of talents.

    He said: “The golf championship seeks to engage children constructively, especially during holiday period and also to introduce them to the game of golf.

    “We believe that most criminal acts are perpetrated by the youths. If we catch kids young and we make them develop interest in sports, the country will be better for it.

    “If this is done, the children will have more positive and constructive activities to engage themselves as they grow up, rather than involving themselves in criminal activities.

    “The programme is also designed to win the hearts and minds of our host communities, while hoping that some of the kids will go on to represent Nigeria in future golf championships.”

    Choji also stated that the naval headquarters had similar sporting activities to keep officers and ratings fit, while improving their proficiency in various marine operations ongoing in the Niger Delta.

    The base operations officer of NNS Pathfinder gave an assurance that the golf championship would be sustained, while urging more students to be available in the next edition.

    The Managing Director of an oil and gas firm, Amnipet, Ishiaku Malik, in his remarks, stated that lack of investment in grass-roots sports was partly responsible for poor showing of Nigeria in major tournaments.

    He said the golf championship would give the students the opportunity to develop interest in sports and become great athletes.

    Malik said: “In the past, inter-house sports competitions were taken seriously, but these days, you hardly see such programmes designed to discover young talents.

    “This event will help to discover and possibly harness talents that will represent and make Nigeria proud in sporting competitions.”

    Managing director of Amnipet also urged the navy to engage corporate organisations to expand the championship, in order to accommodating more children.

    Prizes such as laptops and textbooks were presented to the participating students.

  • Contractors decry Navy’s refusal to pay N32m for supply

    Some contractors engaged by the the Nigerian Navy Secondary School (NNSS) at Ojo, Lagos State, to supply building materials worth over N30 million have faulted the school’s alleged refusal to pay them.

    The contractors, who were represented by officials of Albert Matilda Limited and a contractor, Mr Idowu Adeniyi, said they were engaged to supply gravel, sand and sand-fill to build a sport complex for the school.

    They said efforts to pay them resulted in death threats from Navy officials.

    The contractors urged the naval authorities to investigate alleged fraud against the NNSS management.

    They also said they were issued dud cheques of over N31 million.

    The contractors recalled that last year when the school authorities gave out Local Purchasing Orders (LPOs) to some contractors to supply building materials, Hambal Global Resources Limited, a company allegedly jointly owned by an NNSS official, was among the bidders.

    One of the LPOs given to Albert Matilda Limited, dated March, 2, 2015, showed that a contract of N18.2 million to supply building materials was awarded to the company and others.

    They said building materials worth millions of naira were supplied to actualise the contract.

    According to them, rather than pay the money due to the contractors, the school authorities, represented by Deputy Commandant, Lt.-Com Sule Abdu, allegedly diverted it.

    It was gathered that Mrs Mariam Abdu, wife of NNSS deputy commandant, executed an undertaking on behalf of Hamebal Global Resources Limited to pay N13 million as “down-payment, being the 70 per cent of the N18,200,000 to be paid by March 27, 2015”.

    But after it reportedly failed, Abdu, according to the contractors and the contract documents, also executed another Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), dated April, 18, 2015, where he was said to have promised “to pay (Albert Matilda Limited) …N18 million as the full contract sum on or before Friday, May 8, 2015, whereas no such undertaking was made for Mr. Idowu Adeniyi”.

    But none of the undertakings was reportedly executed.

    The contractors said instead of paying them, the company issued several cheques, totalling N32.4 million, in various amounts to the contractors but were not honoured eventually.

    In the petition by their lawyer, Femi Falana and Co., addressed to the minister of Defence and copied to Cmr Bala Sule, the petitioners urged the minister to investigate the award of contract and the alleged dud cheques by Abdu.

    The law firm warned that it might petition the anti-graft agencies, if those copied failed to take action.

    Abdu said there were efforts to pay the contractors, adding that the school was handicapped by circumstances beyond its control.

    He called for a meeting with Falana to resolve the matter.

     

  • Navy unveils 39 boats in battle against militants

    Navy unveils 39 boats in battle against militants

    The war against pipeline vandals and militants yesterday got a boost with the unveiling of 39 patrol boats by the Nigeria Navy (NN) that can penetrate the creeks.

    This development occurred barely six months after the NN inaugurated 30 of the same class of boats (Epenal boats) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The boats were built at the Naval Dockyard Limited.

    Of the 39 unveiled by the Minister of Defence, Gen. Muhammad Dan-Ali (rtd) in Lagos, 30 were indigenously built. Nine of them including three Wave Riders and six Arrows were acquired from Sri Lanka.

    Dan-Ali ,who was represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Danjuma Sheni also inaugurated 45 different mix of vehicles acquired by the navy to boosts its land operations.

    Praising the navy for sourcing its needs locally and saving cost, Dan-Ali said the emerging security challenges have had great consequences on the nation’s polity and economy.

     “These challenges have continued to demand a great deal of human and material reaources to summount, which in the light of dwindling revenue would be sustainable only with generous  innovations and incorporations of home grown solutions.

    “The Epenal Boat Yard Port Hacourt was contracted to construct 30 8.2m boats for the navy in 2015, whuch was delivered earlier this year. These were immediately inducted into the service and used for rigorous patrols in the Niger Delta.

    “Their availability has helped to stem the tide of criminal activities in the area. Encouraged by the success of the venture, the contract for a further 50 was immediately awarded which has yielded the additional 30 boats. The remaining 20 will be delivered subsequently.

    “I am hopeful that the boats would further boost the ongoing patrol efforts in the various rivers and creeks of the country to the immense benefit of the nation’s maritime security.

    In his welcome address, the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas said that the boats were built with improved features from the 30 inaugurated in Port Harcourt.

    “These boats no doubt, have boosted NN maritime operations. These efforts, both then and now, represent NN’s modest contribution to enhance national security and prosperity.

    “Of the 39 boats launched, nine were acquired from Sri Lanka and would be greatly helpful for patrol of territorial waters and the contiguous zone.

    “The decision of the NN to consider to take such bold steps of building 60 boats locally from the two delivered lots, and with 34 more to join shortly, could be considered as part of the resolve to look inwards in the production of our naval hardware.

    “The mounting operational challenges in the face of progressively dwindling economy necessitated the NN to explore more cost saving options through local construction of these patrol boats. The cost of production of a unit of the boat is less than half the cost of producing similar boats from overseas.

    “This rate has been kept despite the massive erosion of Naira value between November 2015 when the production was contracted and now. These boats retained all positive features of the previous set including being fitted with appropriate weapons for credible firepower.

    “Additionally, it benefitted from the incorporation of anti-ballistic protection, giving it edge for more audacious and aggressive employment. They are also expected to present a better sea-keeping ability with a wide margin for the many corrections applied to the design concept of Lot 1, through series of stage trials in the production cycle.

    “I can say we are gradually but steadily moving towards the saturation of the nation’s backwaters with patrol boats for improved security of our maritime domain. The boats will be deployed optimally by various relevant NN units.

    “Their induction would certainly enhance NN’s capability at carrying out her statutory roles and also assist immensely for the NN to keep the criminals at the back foot,” said Vice Admiral Ibas.

    Speaking to reporters after the event, Chairman, Senate Committee on Navy, Senator Isa Aman-Isa said the legislature appreciates the requirements of the navy and has ensured that it benefits from the N60billion China-Africa partnership loan.

    He said that they have begun plans to ensure the Navy gets adequate funds in the 2017 budget, assuring Nigerians that militancy would soon be a thing of the past.

    At the event were the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin; Chief of Naval Training and Operations, Rear Admiral Adeniyi Osinowo; General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Maj.-Gen. Isidore Edet, Flag Officers Commanding  (FOC) Western and Naval, Rear Admiral Fergusson Bobai and his Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC) colleague, Rear Admiral Ifeola Mohammed.

    Others include the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Logistics Command of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Air Vice Marshal Sani Ahmed, Admiral Superintendent, Naval Ordinance Depot  (NOD) Rear Admiral SO Paul and Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) incharge of Zone II, Abdulmajid Ali.

  • Photos: Navy unveil boats, vehicles built and acquired

    Photos: Navy unveil boats, vehicles built and acquired

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  • Navy arrests two suspected members of Niger Delta Avengers

    The Navy yesterday in Warri paraded two men it branded the brains behind recent attacks on Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) facilities in the Warri North council area of Delta State.

    Stanley Toghan and Felix Miyenminiye are suspected to be members of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).

    Commander of the naval outfit, Commodore Joseph Dzunve, told reporters that the suspects carried out the attacks between May and July in addition to their involvement in other crimes such as pipeline vandalism and piracy.

    He said they had provided useful information that would help the Navy in its operations in the area.

    Their arrest last week in Sapele, he said, followed a tip-off.

    He said his men were on the trail of other members of the gang.

    “The Nigerian Navy and other security agencies remain committed to apprehending those behind all forms of criminal activities in the Nigerian maritime domain”, Dzunve said.

  • Navy arrests two over attacks on Chevron facilities

    Navy authorities at NNS DELTA, Warri, on Saturday said two middle-aged men suspected to be involved in the attacks on Chevron facilities in Delta State have been arrested.

    The Commander of the Naval Base in Delta State, Comm. Joseph Dzunve, told journalists that the suspects were apprehended in Sapele area of the state following a tip-off.

    Dzunve said the attacks on the oil facilities located in Warri North local Government area were carried out between May and July this year.

    ”Today, I am pleased to inform you that after persistent efforts, the NNS DELTA, being part of the maritime component of the Operation Delta Safe, has arrested two suspects responsible for the attack on Chevron facilities,” the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted the NNS commander as saying on Saturday.

    ”They were deeply involved in various forms of crimes, including pipeline vandalism and sea robberies along the waterways in Warri North.

    ”The two apprehended suspects are not the only ones involved in the attacks on the oil facilities in Warri North. Others who are still at large will soon be apprehended.”

  • Navy arrests two suspected oil thieves in Delta

    Navy arrests two suspected oil thieves in Delta

    The anti-crude oil theft team of the Navy has arrested two suspected oil thieves in Ugbosede community in Warri Southwest Local Government Area of Delta State.

    The suspects, who were arrested by officers of the Nigerian Naval Ship (NNS) Delta, have been handed over to officials of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for prosecution.

    A statement by Navy’s Director of Information, Commodore Christine Odogwu Ezekobe, said the arrest was in connection with the discovery of illegal refinery in the area.

    The statement said items recovered from the suspects include a 115 HP outboard engine, a speed boat and 90 HP boat conveying five drums, each of which was said to carry substances suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) or diesel.

    It recalled that a similar arrest was made on August 5, when the patrol team deployed by NNS Pathfinder raided Betaland, an enclave close to Cawthorne Channel in Rivers State.

    During the raid, an illegal refinery site was discovered and destroyed.

    Items also destroyed on the site include four storage tanks, each laden with about 40,000 litres of suspected illegally refined AGO, as well as a Cotonou, Benin Republic boat containing          about 60,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil.

    The Navy pledged to curtail criminal activities in the creeks, saying those sabotaging the nation’s economic assets should stop or face the full wrath of the law.

  • Navy introduces command level course

    Navy introduces command level course

    THE Navy yesterday introduced a Command Level Officers’ Course (CLOC) to enshrine a change of attitude among its personnel and broaden their scope.

    The course, to run for four weeks, had its maiden participants; 16 captains, five commanders and two surgical commanders, from different units and formations.

    Speaking during the inauguration at the Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC) headquarters, Chief of Training and Operations Rear Admiral Adeniyi Osinowo said the course would prepare  participants to secure the nation effectively.

    According to him, participants would learn how to tackle emerging threats, while improving the practical aspect of navigation and direction at sea, as well as documentation to stop institutional memory loss.

    Osinowo said: “The naval job goes beyond knowledge of the regulation. In the course of this training, he will be refreshed in ship management realities and how to professionally manage vessels.

    “Presently, it is costing the Navy so much to repair the Shaldag boats. It is costing the Navy N100 million to repair the Shaldag boats because they tasked more than before. So, there is need to reactivate Plan Maintenance System for FSG (Fleet Support Group) Commanders.

    “To stop institutional memory loss by bridging the gap and building experiences, we need to have a means of aggregating experience.”

    The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) NAVTRAC, Rear Admiral Ifeola Mohammed urged participants to ensure that whatever knowledge they learnt  is passed down to their subordinates.

    According to him, the course shall improve the quality, calibre and tangible feedback processes.

    “Observations, reports and feedback from the field indicated the need for this course to reinvigorate that which distinguishes naval personnel. As naval personnel, we agree that there is need to train the way we want to fight.

    “Within the next four weeks, we shall re-establish the conglomerate thought process; the concept of ownership; win-win benefits; service orientation as well as classroom scenario based home grown solutions to NN problems.

    “You are therefore enjoined to teach your personnel all these concepts to enshrine attitudinal change and sense of belonging,” he said.

    In his welcome address, the Commandant, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) QUORRA, Commodore Francis Isaac said the overall objective of the course is to prepare nominated officers for command level responsibilities with a view to improving the quality of command afloat and ashore.

    “This shall be achieved by equipping nominated officers with requisite tools to exercise effective command in furtherance of NN roles and activities. In terms if specific training objectives, the course is designed to acquaint participants with sufficient knowledge on the structures and management processes of activities in the NN.

    “Acquaint participants with higher level strategies, plans, policies and directives that provide current direction for operations and management of the NN; equip participants with adequate knowledge required for management of a ship or establishment; enrich them with experiences and lessons of past commanders in the NN and expose them to contemporary technologies employed in the management and execution of NN roles, operations and tasks.

    “It will expose participants to visits, practical demonstration and simulator training on NN activities and operational tasks; assess the competence of each participant to perform a commander’s task ashore and afloat, as well as assess the understanding of each participant in the execution of command’s task.”

    At the ceremony were the FOC Western Naval Command (WNC) Rear Admiral Fergusson Bobai; the Admiral Superintendent, Naval Ordinance Depot (NOD), RearAdmiral SO Paul, Commander, NNS BEECROFT, Commordore Abraham Adaji and Course Director, Captain Levingston Izu, among others.

     

    From left: Rear Admirals Ifeola Mohammed, Fergusson Bobai, Adeniyi Osinowo and SO Paul at the inauguration of the maiden Command Level Officers’ Course in Lagos.