The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla, has charged the newly promoted senior officers of the Nigerian Navy to justify their new ranks by intensifying efforts towards curbing the menace of oil theft and maritime crimes in the nation’s domain.
Ogalla, who was represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans, Rear Admiral Joseph Akpan, made the call at the decoration of some newly promoted Commodores, Captains and Commanders in the Nigerian Navy on Thursday in Abuja.
Those decorated include; six Commodores, four Captains and 16 Commanders.
He said that promotion exercise in the military, though fairly regular, does not connote process that lacks rigorous process scrutiny and fairness, urging them not to take the promotion for granted.
The CNS said the nation was being confronted with myriads of security challenges that required the attention of the military, adding that navy personnel were currently engaged in several operations across the country.
He said that aside their engagement in the maritime environment, they were also actively involved in counter terrorism operations in the North East and North West.
“Like I mentioned, at this auspicious time in the history of our country where there is an intense require requirement and desire to reduce the maritime crimes that are perpetrated in our maritime environment.
“These include piracy, robbery at sea and of course the issue of crude oil theft and illegal refining sites, pipeline vandalism, and all sorts of crimes that we encounter there.
“So some of them are also found deployed on land base operations in the North East.
“So, it is not been easy for this crop of officers.
“That is why we follow this age long tradition to formally decorate the successful senior officers at each of the promotion boards.
“These officers have emerged successful out of several others of their colleague and it is a testament to their dedication, diligence, loyalty.
“You are now in a new phase in your career, and it is a demand for commitment, responsibility and output in the service of our nation, especially at the auspicious moment in the history of our country,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the newly decorated officers, Commodore Oluseyi Oladipo, expressed gratitude to God for granting them the promotion, saying that promotion neither comes from North, west or south but from God.
Oladipo also thanked the President Bola Tinubu, for his strategic leadership and restated their loyalty to the defence and security of Nigeria.
He thanked the naval chief and other top officers for shaping them to become senior officers in the service and promised not to let them down.
“With this promotion, we shall redouble our efforts to achieve his mission, vision and mission as encapsulated in the CNS’ strategic directive and leaderships,” he said.
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