Posted on: 02:53 Sat, 17 Sep 2016



The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Ibok-Ete Ibas, on Saturday said recent operations by the navy in the South-South and other parts of the country, have recorded huge success.

Ibas stated this while briefing newsmen at the end of the Third Quarter Route March, in Abuja.

The naval chief was represented by Rear Adm. Adeniyi Osinowo, Chief of Training and Operations, Nigerian Naval Headquarters.

He said that the operations, carried out in partnership with other security agencies, were in line with the navy’s mandate to protect Nigeria’s territorial integrity.

Ibas attributed the successes to concerted efforts of the personnel in strategic and tactical levels of operations.

“We have significant cooperation as well from all cooperating agencies; w e have sharpened our skills as operational concept.

“We also have dedicated anti-piracy units in place within the past few months.

“All these to a reasonable extent have decimated the undesireable series of attacks we noticed in the early part of this year.

“As it is now, we have limited attacks on offshore and on the oil and gas infrastructure,” Ibas said.

The military recently cautioned militant groups operating in the Niger Delta to desist from acts of sabotage of face its wrath.

On the route march, the chief of naval staff said it was to test the fitness level of personnel in line with military tradition.

“Physical fitness is important and indeed an essental requirement for combat readiness and efficiency in all our operations both afloat and ashore.

“What we are witnessing today is part of the NN programme for the year, the third quarter 10 kilometer route march.

“It is designed to not only test our physical fitness but to also equip ourselves whether ashore or afloat,” Ibas said.