Navy Promises Tougher Crackdown On Piracy, Oil Theft In C’River
The Nigerian Navy has vowed to sustain stronger operations against piracy, sea robbery, crude oil theft, illegal oil bunkering, smuggling and other forms of maritime criminality in Cross River State.
The Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Chiedozie Okehie, made this known on Thursday during the closing ceremony of the three-day maiden Intra-Command Maritime Tactical Live Firing Exercise, codenamed Exercise Littoral Fury, held in Cross River State.
Okehie said the exercise was designed to expose naval personnel to realistic operational situations and improve their ability to respond rapidly and effectively to maritime security threats.
He said the exercise would also strengthen joint and coordinated responses among security agencies operating within the maritime environment.
According to him, the littoral environment presents unique operational challenges that require specialised skills, appropriate tactics, effective communication and seamless coordination among security agencies.
“The littoral environment presents unique operational challenges that require specialised skills, appropriate tactics, effective communication and seamless coordination among security agencies,” he said.
The Eastern Naval Command chief added that the command had continued to leverage technology, innovation and intelligence-driven operations to enhance its capacity to detect and respond to maritime crimes.
Representing the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, the Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Suleiman Ibrahim, said the exercise demonstrated the Navy’s operational readiness, tactical agility and discipline.
Ibrahim said the exercise was part of efforts to develop a modern, agile and professional naval force capable of protecting Nigeria’s maritime interests and advancing national security objectives.
He said the exercise enabled participating gunboats, air assets and operational units to test their weapon systems, improve inter-service communication and validate joint littoral manoeuvre doctrines.
According to him, realistic training remained essential to maintaining maritime dominance and ensuring that naval personnel remained mission-ready.
“Rigorous training and realistic operational drills are not optional activities. They are the prize of maritime dominance,” he said.
Ibrahim said the location of the exercise at Dayspring Island was significant, noting that the area was previously one of the biggest militant camps but had now been occupied by the Navy.
He said the Navy’s presence would improve the security of lives and property and boost commercial activities around the Calabar and Dayspring channels, including the waterways leading towards Cameroon.
“By the presence of the Navy here, it’s going to increase commerce; it will provide safety of lives and property,” Ibrahim stated.
He added that improved security would increase confidence among residents, facilitate commerce and potentially generate more revenue for the Federal Government.
Ibrahim said the exercise also provided an opportunity for personnel to train with different weapons, ranging from 9mm pistols to automatic grenade launchers, as they simulated scenarios encountered during maritime patrols.
He urged the personnel to apply the lessons learnt during the exercise to their daily patrols and operational duties.
Navy Captain Mohammed Lawal commended the leadership of the Eastern Naval Command and participating personnel for the successful conduct of the exercise.
Lawal said the exercise demonstrated tactical operational readiness, precision marksmanship and maritime power projection across land and sea environments.
He also commended sister services, security agencies, umpires, local organisers and personnel of the Nigerian Air Force’s 305 Special Mobility Group for their contributions to the exercise.
According to him, participating officers and ratings demonstrated weapon proficiency, physical endurance and tactical discipline throughout the exercise.
