The Flag Officer Commanding, FOC, of the Eastern Naval Command, ENC, Rear Admiral Olushola Oluwagbire has pledged a swift response to operational security challenges within the command’s area of operations.
Rear Admiral Oluwagbire made the pledge during his maiden speech on assumption of office as the 45th FOC of the ENC in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, south-south Nigeria.
Rear Admiral Oluwagbire, who was the immediate past Director of Operations at the Nigerian Navy Headquarters in Abuja, expressed appreciation to the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo for the privilege to serve.
Oluwagbire in the same vein eulogized the outgone FOC, Rear Admiral Ibrahim Dewu for his achievements in the Eastern Naval Command area of operations, which he described as impactful.
Cooperation
He also commended the officers, ratings and other staff within the command for the support given to his predecessor and solicited the same cooperation.
“I commend all the officers, ratings and civilian staff of the Eastern Naval Command, who have assisted the outgone FOC to accomplish his task. Without you he would not have accomplished anything. I crave the same cooperation and dedication from you.
“I look forward to contributing my quota to achieving the Chief of Naval Staff vision of optimizing the deployment of the Nigerian Navy in the performance of our constitutional roles and undertaking of the assigned task, while swiftly responding with commensurate action to other emerging operational security challenges,” he stated.
Continuing, the FOC stressed, “On my watch, I will be firm, I will be fair and focused. We will do our very best and sincerely look forward to a pleasant and rewarding tour of duty as the Flag Officer Commanding the Eastern Naval Command.”
In a valedictory speech, the outgone FOC, Rear Admiral Ibrahim Dewu expressed gratitude to the almighty for the strength, wisdom and focus to accomplish the set task.
Rear Admiral Dewu took time out to express appreciation to all the officers and other personnel for the “support and sacrifices that enabled the successes recorded. I especially appreciate all of you, who worked tirelessly often in life-threatening situations and enduring pains to ensure that we deliver on our mandate.”
Achievements
Dewu recalled that the Eastern Naval Command during his tour of duty recorded some remarkable achievements such as “conducting and participating in independent, joint and combined exercises like Operation Calm Waters, Tripartite Border Patrol, Tsare Teku, Gba PADA, Dakatar Da Barawo and Exercise Obangame 2023.
“The command also sustained effective patrols of its maritime Area of Responsibility (AoR), undertook several clearance and swamp buggy operations in the backwaters, which resulted in considerable reduction of piracy in Nigeria’s maritime domain and led to the arrest of 27 vessels engaged in illegal bunkering, crude oil theft and other maritime illegalities,” he stated.
Other achievements Rear Admiral Dewu stated included, the deactivation of 294 illegal refining sites, the destruction and evacuation of illegally refined AGO, DPK as well as the destruction of several pirates and kidnappers camps.
On infrastructural development, the outgone FOC noted that several facilities designed to boost the operational efficiencies of the officers and ratings across the bases and establishments within the command were provided for with the support of the Chief of Naval Staff.
He urged the personnel to support the new FOC accomplish future tasks in line with the mission and vision of the Chief of the Naval Staff.
Emmanuel Ukoh
