The Nigerian Navy has assured Nigerians that it would not abdicate her duties of protecting the waterways of the country including the Niger Delta creeks, which have recently become a theatre of battle and other illegalities.
Speaking when he toured naval training facilities in Port Harcourt under his command, the Flag officer commanding, Naval training command, Rear admiral Ishaya Ibrahim said the navy was committed to professionalism and would ensure that the basic training is given to naval officers to tackle the challenge facing her including the threats in the Niger delta creeks.
On what the navy has done so far against current unrest in the creeks, the commander said the force has been assisting ad supporting other government security arrangement to the extent that it has been involved or asked to but stated that the navy was ready to enforce peace in the countries waters to allow for genuine business and growth of the shipping industry.
He stressed that the shipping industry was important to the Nigerian economy describing it as a major source of development.
Admiral Ibrahim charged the training schools to enforce discipline in the force and proper training of the officers and men reiterating the commitment of the current Chief of naval staff to training, discipline and professionalism.
At the Nigerian navy hydrographic school, Borokiri, Port Harcourt, the commander was told of the problem of erosion, which has taken over the schools jetty, and the issue of obsolete equipment. The commanding officer, Navy captain Adesina Mustapha asked the commander to use his good offices to secure a contract for the construction of a concrete jetty for the school.
At the Naval college and the Nigerian Navy basic Training school all at Onne in Eleme local government of Rivers state, Navy commodore Adebayor of the college and Navy captain Harman Effenedu of the Basic schools variously asked for the equipping of the Computer laboratory, library and upgrading of training equipment at the two training institutions. Admiral Ibrahim promised to convey their request to the naval headquarters and commended them for their efforts in the midst of those challenges.
Meanwhile Governor Peter Odili of Rivers state has sated that the problem facing the Niger delta cannot be solved by kidnapping of oil workers and restiveness saying the Abuja stakeholders meeting on the Niger delta was a veritable forum for the aggrieved deltans to air their vexations.
Speaking in Port Harcourt on his way to the meeting in Abuja, the governor said the Niger delta was going there to vent their anger. Odili said much harm has been done to the delta due o oil exploration and called on the federal government to begin to show visible commitment to turn around things in the region. He berated those who were calling for the boycott of the meeting as that according to him would not be in the interest of the Niger Delta.