Navy vows offensive on bandits in maritime domain

Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo has urged the officers and ratings of Nigerian Navy to redouble their efforts in ameliorating the security situation in the nation’s maritime environment.

Vice Admiral Gambo, while addressing the officers of the Central Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy in Yenagoa on Thursday, said he will not hesitate to throw out any personnel found to be colluding with economic saboteurs, drug traffickers and barons, bandits or armed robbers from the service.

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“Our intention is to  improve on the efforts of our predecessors and  to achieve our policy direction and other matters needed to push the Nigerian navy to significantly ameliorate the security situation in the nations maritime environment and to achieve urgent positive security transformation in the national maritime domain in line with presidential directives,” he said.

“Professionalism and integrity are important in our desire to achieve the desired transformation. In essence, the core values of the Nigerian navy to be upheld by all personnel to ensure maximum outing by the service.

“As officers you are expected to know your responsibilities and expectations for the service to our nation. I cannot overstress the importance of discipline and integrity in the intent to achieve any success during my tenure and discipline means the foundation of military service.

“As officers, you are expected to know your responsibilities and expectations in the service to our nation.

“While efforts are being made to improve on the services of all personnel, you are aware that I shall continue to monitor your activities and evaluate your performance in determining your continued relevance.

“Accordingly, I shall not hesitate to relieve any one of his appointment if found wanting hence to establish services and measures to sanction any  Nigerian navy personnel that colludes with economic saboteurs, drug traffickers and barons, bandits or armed robbers.

“On the other hand, Nigerian navy personnel that exhibits high integrity and positive attributes that portray the Nigerian navy in good sight shall be rewarded handsomely.”

The flag officer commanding Central naval command rear admiral Kennedy Egbuchulam, said that the central Naval Command occupies a very important place in Nigeria Navy’s effort to combat crime in the nation’s maritime area.

Regretting that the security situation in Nigeria has assumed a worrisome dimension as criminals operating in  the waters have not relented in their efforts to continue to illegitimately profit from the common national resources, he said  issues of sea robbery, piracy and crude oil theft remain a challenge, as they continue to negatively impact on the national economy.

The FOC said, “This underscores the importance for us to rise up to the challenge to fulfill the Chief of the Naval Staff’s directive for us to adopt effective strategies in order to rid the maritime space of all forms of criminality.”