Tag: Navy

The Nigerian Navy (NN) has graduated 70 officers after one year intensive training in military planning and theatre of war operations.

The graduation ceremony, which was held at the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Quorra at Apapa in Lagos, had 24 and 46 officers graduating from the Officers Long Course (OLC) and Sub-Lieutenant Technical Course (STC).

The course attendants were trained in Above Water Warfare (AWW), Under Water Warfare (UWW), Navigation and Direction (ND) and Communication and Information Technology (CIT).

The guest of honour and Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command Rear Admiral Ifeola Mohammed said the OLC and STC represented the pathway to professionalism in the navy.

He said: “Modern-day naval operations have become more complex and navies around the world are becoming even more sophisticated by the day.

“Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that dynamism, to keep pace with modern-day challenges and realities of naval operations.

“This is consistent with the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Ibok Ette-Ibas’ Strategic Directives 2015-1, which NAVTRAC has implemented to the letter.

“Now, the graduates are better equipped with the knowledge required to operate in complex changing scenarios as currently resonating in our maritime environment. This has been persistently challenged by a myriad of threats that have impinged on our economic wellbeing and national security.”

NNS Quorra Commandant Commodore Francis Isaac said the graduates were the first beneficiaries of the recently reviewed professional school curriculum, including modules in cyber security, health safety and environment.

Isaac said: “I believe they are better equipped and have acquired the necessary knowledge needed to see them through the discharge of your duties as well as taking up leadership roles in the field.

“I know NNS Quorra is confronted with various challenges. However, let me assure you both the CNS and the FOC are working hard to ensure improvement in infrastructure, the learning environment and welfare, among others. These facts are evident from the ongoing renovations and acquisitions of some training aids.”

Also, the Training Captain Livingstone Izu said at the end of the course, the class average score of OLC stood at 74.85 per cent, while that of STC stood at 82.09 per cent.

For the OLC, he said 11 students made Second Class; eight made Third Class and six made Pass. For the STC, Izu said nine students made First Class, 13 made Second Class, 22 got Third Class and two made Pass.

The Nigerian Navy has called for synergy among the military, the media and the civil populace to establish a common understanding of individual roles, limits and pre-empt clashes stemming from duty performance.

It said the harmony was required, especially with the media, because of its multiplier effect on the public and how some misconceptions of news reportage foil military operations.

The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Fergunson Bobai, who spoke on the need for the synergy at the Navy lecture on: Military Media and Civil Relations.

The FOC said the dynamic role and operations of the military necessitated the need for cordial relationships between the Armed Forces and the civil society.

He said the leadership of the Navy under Admiral Ibak Ibok Ibas could not compromise a good relationship with the public.

Bobai noted that the failure to do so could result in dangerous implications that could adversely affect national security and democracy.

He said: “The role of the military and civil populace in achieving effective civil-military relation has not been very impressive. On many occasions, the military blames the media for damaging its image while the populace accuses the military of inaccessibility and brutality, among others. But the Nigerian Navy will continue to subordinate itself to civil authority.”

The Head of Department, Political Science, at the University of Ibadan (UI), Prof Nwolise Osisioma said there was need for continuous exchange of ideas through seminars and conferences, constant education of military personnel on the rule of law, human rights and peaceful methods of conflict resolution. He said the media must take seriously sensitisation of correspondents on what is fit to be exposed, as and when due.

Nwolise said: “To avoid speculations, managers of military information should strive to release needed defence information early to correspondents. The media serve as a force multiplier and can cause war between two countries. The public should be educated also on the very important role of the military in the society and their peculiar characteristics.”

The Commander, Operation Delta Safe, Rear Admiral Joseph Okojie yesterday said the Nigerian Navy (NN) has well trained personnel to tackle contemporary challneges.

Rear Admiral Okojie, who was the 29th Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Naval Training Command  (NAVTRAC) stated this in Lagos while handing over the flagship to his successor, Rear Admiral Ifeola Mohammed.

He noted that naval trainings have been carefully designed to provide needed skills and knowledge after analysis of prevailing contemporary challenges and emerging threats confronting the nation.

In his about three months as FOC NAVTRAC, Rear Admiral Okojie said his team worked tirelessly with shared commitment to meet the Chief of Naval Staff’s strategic directive 2015-1.

He also hinted that the Navy was on the verge of establishing a university for maritime studies, adding that the name will be unveiled by the CNS, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas.

“The Navy is a contemporary force and we are very prepared to tackle security problems using best practices and in accordance with International standard.

“We could recall that the strategic directive is in furtherance of the CNS’ mission statement which is to deploy a naval force that is well trained, organised and highly motivated to discharge its constituional roles professionally and efficiently for the defence of Nigeria in ensuring her economic prosperity.

“As we are probably aware, the NAVTRAC is saddled with the primary responsibility of meeting the professional manpower needs for the NN. The command being mindful of its statutory roles, embarked on wholesome curriculum review to align it’s professional trainings to meet with current NN operational realities/requirements.

“We carefully analysed the prevailing contemporary security situation and emergent threats confronting our nation today, these were followed by development of course packages designed to provide needed skills and knowledge to tackle the threats.

“These were included in the new curricula for colleges and schools. Additionally, in the effort to tackle the training implications arising from contemporary security challenges in the nation’s maritime domain, the command initiated a consultation process with a wide spectrum of stakeholders. All these efforts are geared towards improving NN professional training and operational effectiveness,” he said.

Rear Admiral Mohammed said his focus was to ensure that personnel get adequate educational and professional training to better emplace them in securing Nigeria’s territorial integrity.

“Nigeria has reposed in you the confidence to train personnel in peace time so that they are able to deliver in times of emergency. You must get personnel ready to fight.

“As the FOC, I will ensure that unwritten contract is maintained by providing you the logistics and enabling environment to deliver on NAVTRAC’s mandate as encapsulated by the CNS.

“We must ensure that the men get what they need to work and that Nigeria’s resources is put to the best possible use,” Rear Admiral Mohammed said.

•Peterside: Falcon Eye’ ll help detect crimes

The Nigerian Navy yesterday reiterated its commitment to protect the nation’s water ways devoid of any criminal activities.

The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete-Ibas, spoke during the inauguration of a project tagged, “Falcon Eye” at the Navy Headquarter in Abuja.

Ibas said the Falcon Eye (Over the Horizon Maritime Surveillance from Detection to Interception), was a capacity enhancer.

He explained that it reduced the cost of patrols and allowed accurate ways of going about maritime surveillance.

“When you have troops patrolling without focus, we can sit back at the Naval Headquarters in Abuja and identify some vessels of interests and investigate them.

“This way, our operations become more easier, efficient and very effective”, he said.

Ibas added that the equipment also enabled the naval personnel to see beyond the horizon.

He said when completed, everything will be easier for the naval personnel to carry out their tasks effectively.

The National Security Adviser (NSA), who was the Special Guest of Honour, retired Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno, while inaugurating the project, commended Navy for coming out with such a brilliant idea.

Monguno urged NN to continue with the good work in the interest of the nation’s water ways.

The NSA expressed confidence that the project would go a long way in reducing all forms of criminal activities in the nation’s water ways.

Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr Dakuku Peterside said the project was a positive development.

He said it would assist Navy to keep an eye on the nation’s maritime domain.

“It will make Navy to be more aware of the activities going on in maritime domain.

“The equipment will help in the area of detection of criminal activities, interception of criminals and record keeping,” he said.

He said the equipment would also provide NN an ample advantage to see and tackle piracy and other criminal activities within the nation’s water ways.

“ It is indeed a wonderful development; I am quite impressed with what I saw today, I am also in touch with my Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), counterparts, and we agree that the equipment is strategic to our plans”, Peterside said.