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Tag: Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas

  • Navy deploys 80 boats, 13 ships against militants in Niger Delta

    Navy deploys 80 boats, 13 ships against militants in Niger Delta

    To contain activities of militants and sea pirates in Niger Delta, the Nigerian Navy has deployed 80 boats, 13 ships and two helicopters to the region.

    While the 80 boats were deployed over the weekend to various creeks and back waters to flush out militants and illegal refineries, the capital ships on Tuesday commenced navigation to the high seas for the annual Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS’) sea inspection exercise codenamed “Eagle Eye II.”

    Flagging off the exercise at the Onne Port in Rivers State, the CNS, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas, said it was designed to assess the operational readiness of the naval force to conduct maritime policing including anti-piracy and riverine operations.

    He said the exercise was a conscious effort to consolidate on the gains of last year’s programme, adding that the navy incorporated elements from sister services and would collaborate with other security agencies in intelligence sharing.

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  • Most illegal refineries shut down, says naval chief

    Most illegal refineries shut down, says naval chief

    The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas, has said most illegal refineries within the maritime domain have been destroyed.

    He said piracy had also reduced in the last one year.

    Also, the Navy has concluded plans to establish safe corridors on the waterways where protection would be provided for merchant vessels.

    Ibas spoke yesterday at the NNS Quorra Apapa yard in Lagos after his biannual inspection of facilities and command in Lagos area.

    The naval chief noted that the volume of trade through Nigeria’s waters had increased, attributing this to enhanced security.

    He said: “In the last one year, the navy has been performing. We have been out at sea, training and providing infrastructure, welfare and administrative supports. So far, I think the results are there to speak for themselves.

    “We have been able to considerably bring down cases of piracy on our waters. This is well noticed in the volume of trade that is taking place out there. The exports and imports of goods in Nigeria have increased. We are also rated a secure fishing environment and we are having more fishing activities taking place. So, this and all others are the positive impacts our operations have done for the nation’s economy.

    “The navy has shut down most illegal refineries and we have been able to bottle up activities of criminals and prevent them from going to sea.

    “We have also got most of the boats they used out there, that is boats with 200 horsepower engines and above through the support of our regulatory bodies. So, the navy is still on their trail to ensure they do not go out.”

    On what the navy was doing to curtail sea robbery, Ibas said choke points had been provided for the over 5,000 backwater channels, saying the service had also enhanced its surveillance technology.

    said criminals, whose source of funds had been blocked were the ones venturing into sea robbery.

    “Occasionally, you have robbery incidents that occur on land and when you pursue these guys, they find the sea especially the backwaters available for their illegal operations.

    “Besides, the navy does not have access to most of these backwaters because they are not navigable. That is why we adopted the choke point system.”

    On the purpose for the tour, Ibas said: “Usually, at the end of the year, we schedule to go round and appraise the state of readiness of our navy. That is what we have done in the past few days in Lagos area.

    “We will continue the same exercise in other commands across the country. Our mandate is to ensure that we provide maritime security and an enabling environment for seafarers. It is also important that we keep the men abreast of what is happening in respect to security of the nation…”

  • Navy, others defy rain to reassure residents of security

    Navy, others defy rain to reassure residents of security

    To establish its presence and reassure Nigerians of their security, the Nigerian Navy and other security agencies on Saturday morning embarked on a-thousand-man route march.

    The march, which commenced at about 5:00 a.m. from the headquarters, Naval Training Command  (NAVTRAC), Apapa, progressed through Ijora, Costain to Ojuelegba and back despite the heavy downpour.

    An initiative of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas, the exercise was primarily organised to test the physical fitness and mental alertness of personnel.

    The Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS), Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) took part in the exercise that lasted about four hours.

    According to the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) NAVTRAC, Rear Admiral Obi Ofodile, the march was to reassure the populace that their security forces were in charge.

    He said: “When you see military men march on the street, one of the objectives, whether defined or not is to reassure the public that we are in charge. In fact they are much safer than ever. It is a way of reassuring the public that all is well and every situation is under control.

    “This route march is a continuous thing and we will be doing it once in a while. I have no doubt that it would really strengthen the existing relationship between members of the armed forces and other security operatives.

    “We want to build and sustain good relationship with paramilitary agencies. For the armed forces, we have good relationship because we all train at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA). By organising exercises like this, we want our colleagues in uniform in other agencies to know that we all are one.

    “From the turnout and participation, it is quite clear that we are all fit and healthy. I must commend the CNS, who directed that the commands and autonomous units of the navy should come up with a march where other security agencies would be invited to participate in order to foster understanding, friendship and oneness.

    “As a matter of fact we are created equal because we are the same. We could see from here that there is no one having two heads. All of us whether you are in the army, prisons or other paramilitary agencies, you have one head. “

     

  • Navy needs $250m to refit ARADU, says Ibas

    Navy needs $250m to refit ARADU, says Ibas

    Indications emerged Friday that the nation’s only multi-roles Frigate, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) ARADU might never go to sea again.

    This is because the Nigerian Navy (NN) said it would cost a whopping $250million to refit the vessel, an amount that could buy many Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) and boats to fight current security threats.

    The first of the MEKO 360 general purpose frigates built by German Blohm & Voss, Hamburg, NNS ARADU was one of three ships in the world with capabilities for simultaneous anti-air, anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare.  The ship also had capability for electronic warfare and naval fire support.

    Speaking with reporters after the NN Ceremonial Sunset and dinner to mark its 61 anniversary, the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas made it clear that refitting NNS ARADU was not an option for the now, because the Service’ budget was not enough to carry out its core responsibilities for six months.

    Ibas said: “Certainly, it is not our desire to allow our ships lie alongside. To refit NNS ARADU, the nation would need over $250million 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.”

    “The navy, just like any other service has never gotten what will enable it run for six months talk more of running through the year. But we all understand that the navy is an important service that protects where the resources come from and needs to be given special consideration.

    “A lot has been provided for the navy. In a certain way, we cannot even speak so we have to work out other strategies to ensure that we are able to carry out our mandate.”

    On how the NN has fared in its 61 years of existence, Ibas admitted there have been a lot of challenges, most of which the service surmounted.

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

    “The consequences of which saw 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 in the past, we were able to contain the menace of militants and keep them away 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.

    “In the last two years, the navy got some boats which the president commissioned. This is in addition to various infrastructural logistics and welfare added to the officers and men.”

    Ibas also condemned the fight between naval operatives and policemen in Cross River State, stating that a committee has been set up to probe the cause and ensure there was no repeat.

     

  • Shakeup in the Navy as 38 senior officers are redeployed

    Shakeup in the Navy as 38 senior officers are redeployed

    In line with the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas’  effort to reposition the Nigerian Navy (NN) for greater efficiency,
    38 senior officers were yesterday posted to head different formations and commands.
    The posting, which affected 34 Rear Admirals and four Commodores was said to have been aimed at injecting fresh drive into the NN’s operations and administration.
    A statement signed by the Director, Naval Information, Commodore Chris Ezekobe indicated that the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command (WNC) Rear Admiral Raphael Osondu will hand over to former Navy Secretary Rear Admiral F.D. Bobai.
    “The FOC Eastern Naval Command (ENC) Rear Admiral Atiku Abdulkadir will hand over to Rear Admiral J.O. Oluwole while the FOC Central Naval Command (CNC) Rear Admiral AO Suleiman hands over to Rear Admiral T. Dick.
    “Others are FOC Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC) Rear Admiral Adeniyi Osinowo who hands over to Rear Admiral J.O. Okojie and the FOC Logistics Command Rear Admiral E.G. Ofik who hands over to Rear Admiral SAG Abbah.
    “The newly appointed Principal Staff Officers (PSOs) at the Naval Headquarters include Rear Admiral J.A. Ajani – Chief of Policy and Plans (CPPLANS), Rear Admiral O.C. Medani – Chief of Administration (COA), Rear Admiral Henry Babalola- Chief of Naval Transformation (C NTRANS), Rear Admiral Adeniyi Osinowo – Chief of Training and Operations (CTOPS), Rear Admiral EG Ofik – Chief of Naval Safety and Standard (CNASS) while Rear Admiral AO Odeh takes over as the Chief of Naval Engineering (CONE).
    “Moreso, new helmsmen were appointed for two major directorates at the Naval Headquarters. They are Rear Admiral IO Mohammed as Director of Project Implementation Directorate (DPIMED) and Surgeon Rear Admiral EE Enechukwu as Director of Medical Services (DMS),” said Ezekobe.