Navy expresses worry over insecurity in maritime domain

The Nigerian Navy has expressed concern over festering insecurity within the nation’s maritime domain.

The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, stated this yesterday at Onne, Rivers State, while flagging off the 2017 CNS yearly sea inspection, ‘Exercise Eagle Eye.’

Ibas, who noted that the maritime activities were vital to the economic survival of the country, said the operational capability of the Navy was being challenged by full-blown insecurity within and around the nation’s maritime domain.

He said to stay ahead of the miscreants, the service had utilised both kinetic and non-kinetic means to checkmate their ignoble activities. 

The Naval chief, however, stressed the need to place innovative synergy with relevant ministries, departments and agencies to decisively deal with the insecurity challenges. 

Also, the Chief of Training and Operations, Fegosin Dubani, noted that the exercise was aimed at assessing the stability and co-ordination in the maritime security domain.

In another development, the contractors handling the rehabilitation work on the Apapa-Wharf road in Lagos have assured that it would be ready within the stipulated one-year timetable despite initial setbacks.

Project Manager, Apapa-Wharf Road, Mr. Jimoh Tunde, gave the assurance during a visit by the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Apapa Branch, to the site yesterday in Lagos.

Tunde, while receiving the delegation, noted that due to absence of concrete rehabilitation work on the road in the last 30 years, the team ran into some challenges, which include gas and water pipelines, electric cables and telecommunication lines that had to be moved elsewhere to allow thorough construction.

He, however, said they were able to surmount the constraints with the assistance of the Federal Ministry of Works.

According to him, they have divided work on the road into four sections due to heavy traffic to fast-track the project and ensure its timely completion slated for June 2018.

The NSE Apapa Branch Chairman, Dr. Garba Ombugadu, who noted that the road is critical to the nation’s economy and business operation in the area, said they were at the site for constructive engagement and appraisal of the project.

He, however, canvassed for quality maintenance of the road, saying no matter how good it is, maintenance must be a priority.

He said: “We must have a culture of maintenance. If we need to re-orientate our people, then we must do it.”