The Nigerian Navy has received accolades for sustained efforts aimed at enhancing security along the nation’s maritime environment through the acquisition of platforms, operations and other infrastructure.
A former Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, retired Rear Admiral Antonio Ibinabo Bob-Manuel gave the commendation at the 2021 Eastern Naval Command Regimental Dinner held in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, south-south Nigeria.
Rear Admiral Bob-Manuel, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the dinner, described the operations of the Nigerian Navy especially in the Gulf of Guinea as successful and a step in the right direction.
He attributed the achievements of the Nigerian Navy to the sterling leadership of the Chief of the Naval Staff, CNS, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, noting “it is heartwarming to observe that the Nigerian Navy has made laudable efforts in the areas of platform acquisition, operations and infrastructural development in recent times.
“The effort of the Service in enhancing maritime security within the nation’s waters and the Gulf of Guinea are significant. It is a laudable step in the right direction. I particularly want to commend the leadership of the Nigerian Navy and the Eastern Naval Command for steering a course of progress,” he stated.
The Special Guest of Honour urged personnel of the navy to “maintain the highest level of integrity, professionalism and teamwork at all times” in the course of their duty, which is majorly to protect Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
Military Comradeship
Speaking on the relevance of the dinner to personnel, the retired Rear Admiral said that it was an age-long tradition of the navy to foster comradeship and enhance regimentation by events of this nature and appreciated the CNS for according him the privilege and honour to be amongst eminent qualified retired and serving personnel.
He used the opportunity to remind serving personnel of the hallmarks of the military career, which according to him are “loyalty, discipline and integrity imbibed through regimentation.”
Bob-Manuel advised, “for the younger officers, this occasion would assist you to learn mess etiquettes as part of the binding force that makes the military career unique. For older ones, I want to urge you to be more committed to sustaining the tradition and mentor your subordinates along this direction.”
The event climaxed with a launch of the Eastern Naval Command Magazine by the Special Guest of Honour and other retired officers and invited civilian friends of the Nigerian Navy.
One highlight of the evening was when retired Rear Admiral Bob-Manuel took time out to conduct the military band jointly manned by personnel of the Nigerian Army and Navy.
The Flag Officer Commanding, the Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Sanusi Ibrahim also played host to Service Chiefs of the Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Immigration Service.
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