Cross section of Naval officers during an inspection at the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital. Photo: Emem Julius
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, has pledged to combat maritime crimes to ensure the safety and security of the country’s maritime environment.
He disclosed this on Thursday during an operational visit to inspect facilities at the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital and other projects in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, stressing that the Nigerian Navy is committed to making Nigeria’s waters safe and secure.
Abbas said, “The Navy is committed to making Nigeria’s waters safe and secure. Be rest assured, we are going to make our maritime environment very safe and secure.”
Speaking on his operational visit to Calabar, Abbas expressed satisfaction with the facilities and operational gains made by the Navy in recent weeks.
“I am happy with what I have seen and particularly the operational gains that have been made in the last few weeks are encouraging,” he stated.
He emphasised that the Navy’s mandate is maritime security, noting that he is assessing the service’s operational capabilities to identify critical challenges and prioritise areas requiring attention.
“I am here in Calabar as part of my operational visit, which I embarked on some weeks ago. I have been going around various naval commands, units and formations.
“Basically, I am here to assess the operational capabilities of the Navy with a view to identifying some of the critical challenges and, by extension, what needs to be prioritised towards achieving the mandate of the Nigerian Navy, which is the maritime security of the nation,” he explained.
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