Nation
Western Naval Command Lists Achievements
The Western Naval Command (WNC) has organised a special event codenamed ‘ceremonial sunset parade’ to mark the end of 2020 year.
The event which ended in the early hours of Sunday in Lagos was attended by Naval personnel dressed in their ceremonials and invited guests to mark one of the biggest days in the calendar of the Navy worldwide.
Other military top brass, serving and past service chiefs, captains of industry were not left out of the parade.
The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. F. F. Ogu, who was the Special Guest of Honor, said that despite the challenges of 2020, the Command performed well in the passing year.
“Significantly, in the last one year, the Nigerian Navy in the Lagos area had been able to achieve some of her set targets inspite of some challenges, especially, the global COVID -19 pandemic and the EndSARS protest.
“The scope of activities of the Command covers operations, training, doctrine and assessment,naval ordnances, logistics and other auxillary services.
“In the midst of the aforementioned challenges, the Command and its establishments successfully played their roles in ensuring policy implementation, safety and security of the Nigerian maritime domain, training and administration of personnel,” he said.
Ogu also said that the relentless patrols by the Command had led to the arrest of suspects, vessels’ seizures , and the destruction of illegal facilities.
“In the area of operations, ships and boats were deployed to tackle maritime crimes such as piracy, illegal bunkering, crude oil theft ,smuggling among others.
“Our relentless patrol led to the arrest of suspects, vessels’ seizures and the destruction of illegal facilities among others.
“These items have been handed over to the relevant government agencies for further actions.
“The Command has continued to optimise the use of its assigned seagoing platforms to maintain presence in its area of responsibility.”
Ogu said, “During the period under review, ships and boats were at sea for several hours to ensure security of the backwaters.
“These measures coupled with the efficient use of the NPA facilities and helicopters for surveillance have enabled the Command to curtail illegal activities significantly along the creeks and the waterways,” Ogu said.
Ogu said that in spite of the challenges of COVID-19 pandemic, NAVTRAC had continued to provide basic and professional trainings for personnel as well as capacity building.
He said that 3,000 persons were recruited within the period under review, adding that the personnel are still undergoing the requisite training.
“Equally important to note is the no fewer than 4,000 undertraining personnel that underwent or at present in training in NN professional schools.”
He said that the Naval Ordnance Depot also provided critical services in ensuring the operational readiness and effectiveness of the Nigerian Navy operations.
“Provisions and maintenance of essential naval ordnances such as: firearms, ammunition, as well as ship designs, constructions and refleet has assisted greatly in the service delivery of the NN in the Lagos area.
“Equally key, not only to Naval operations as it includes the mapping of the Nigerian Maritime domain, is the NN Hydrographic.
“Their activities have assisted greatly in ensuring that the welfare and morale of the personnel are maintained through the activities of the Central Pay Office,” he said.
Ogu commended the other sister agencies and the Lagos State Government for their supports.
“No man is an island. The success attributed to the Command and its establishments would not have been possible without highlighting the supports of our sister agencies such as: the Nigerian Police Force, DSS, EFCC ,other government agencies, etc.
He said that the Command looked forward to a better synergy with other stakeholders in the coming years.
The Rivers state Government has identified six local government areas with the highest burden of maternal and Neonatal mortality in the state.
State Commissioner for Health Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh said this in an interview with newsmen at the Maternal and Neonatal Reduction innovation initiative ( Mamii)Rivers state activation workshop and state engagement meeting in Port Harcourt.
The event was organized by The Federal Ministry of Health in conjunction with its Rivers state counterpart in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh also restated the preparedness of the state government to support current efforts by the federal government towards the reduction of maternal and infant mortalities in the country.
She mentioned the affected Local Government Areas to include, Andoni,Akuku Toru and Ahoada West
The rest according to the Commissioner are, Bonny, Etche and Emohua Local Government Areas.
She said the workshop will enable the team from the federal ministry of health and social welfare to brainstorm with the view to finding solution to the problem.
The Commissioner also gave reasons why the Mamii initiative was the best as far as finding solution to maternal mortality was concerned.
“The uniqueness of the Mamii initiative driven by the federal ministry of health and social welfare was that we used evidence to elicit the reasons for this deaths, so that the solutions will be context specific and tailored to the particular environment where those deaths are occuring
“For us in Rivers state we have six Mamii LGAs , nationally we we have 172 local government areas “the Commissioner said.
Earlier in her opening remarks,Dr Oreh said the state government is prepared to work with the federal ministry of health and social welfare to check the rate of maternal mortality in the state.
She commended The Minister of Health and Social welfare Professor Ali Muhammad Pategi for driving the Mamii initiative across the country and expressed optimism that the programm will see to the end of maternal mortality in the country.
Also speaking the National Coordinator Nigeria health sector Renewal Initiative Dr Adam Ahmed said Rivers state is the last state among Mamii states in the country to host the team.
He said the team will visit the affected Local Government Areas with the view to interacting with the people on how to check the trend.
He expressed the hope that with continuous efforts, maternal mortality will be checked.
Also speaking the permanent secretary Rivers state Ministry of Health Professor Justinah Jumbo said the government is not leaving any stone unturned towards reduction in maternal deaths.
The permanent secretary said Governor Siminalaye Fubara is a health friendly Governor who is desirous in improving the quality of health of Rivers people.
John Bibor
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Rivers state has declared a one day fasting and prayer to seek divine intervention on the political crisis rocking the state.
The Association said this at a media briefing in Port Harcourt.
State chairman of the Association,Most Rev. Dokiboeriya B. Kaladokubo said the fasting and prayer which holds February 5th at the Ecumenical center Abonnema wharf was in furtherance of the Association peace, advocacy, good governance and political stability in Rivers state.
He said the Association has observed with disappointment the dangerous trend and and gradual descent of governance in Rivers state into uncertainty and near oblivion, adding that the trend has exposed Rivers citizens to insecurity, economic hardship, loss of livelihood and the destruction of lives and property.
Kaladokubo said the association has also watched with dismay the unfolding political crisis in the state, stressing “what we see today is not merely a disagreement among political actors,it is a dangerous drift that threatens the very foundation of governance, peace, security and the collective well-being of our people”
According to him,”as the custodians of the spiritual and moral conscience of Rivers state,we can not remain silent while the state is pushed steadily towards chaos, institutional breakdown and avoidable suffering
“We are not oblivious of the fact that Rivers state like some other states in the federation often experience tension between the Executive and the Legislature “adding”when disagreement escalate they can hinder governance, delay budgets ,erode public trust and impede peaceful, constructive development”
The Christian body stressed the need for parties involved in the conflict to seek for peaceful resolution, stressing that as Christians and children of God “we should seek the path of peace and reconciliation as Christ Himself taught us”it said
The Association further encourage the both arms of government to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness and prioritize good governance in Rivers state
“We also advised all the parties in these conflict to call their supporters to exercise restraint in all their utterances and de-escalate tension in the interest of peace in Rivers state ”
CAN also described as disturbing the role some elder statesmen and individuals in the state have played and continue to play in the crisis when they should have serve as voices of wisdom, restraint and unity
“Rather than guiding the process towards peace, some have taken sides,fueled division and encouraged instability becoming more dangerous than those currently holding power”,it said.
John Bibor
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