The Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo has assured that the Nigerian Navy will provide necessary escorts and support to the Nigerian Police,Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure successful conduct of the 2023 elections.
Gambo who stated this in a goodwill message at the 1st quarter route route March 2023 warned that any one found disrupting the process will be dealt with.
Gambo who was represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans (COPP) Rear Admiral Saidu Garba said the Route March is organized earlier than scheduled as a show of force to prepare personnel to be mentally and physically fit for the forthcoming 2023 General Elections.
“Similarly, I wish to remind you all that the political activities in the country for the forthcoming general election have reached a climax hence, I urge you to maintain neutrality and be apolitical.
“On this note, I enjoin you to be more professional in the conduct of your duties and day to day activities. Furthermore, I encourage you not to engage in any acts of misdemeanor or take laws into your hands that could bring the Service disrepute in the course of your duty. The Nigerian Navy will continue to support you by providing all the needs to function optimally in the area of your responsibilities. Additionally, I charge you all to show dedication to duty and unflinching support to our democracy and constituted authority” he said
He added that the Route March exercise was aimed at developing personnel physical and mental alertness to meet the dynamics of contemporary security operations as well as fostering esprit de corps and providing an avenue for relaxation.
“The first quarter 2023 Route March is specifically organised as a show of force to assure Nigerians, that the armed forces of Nigeria and indeed the Nigerian Navy is ready to ensure that citizens of Nigeria go out and vote without hindrance, without any molestation and we shall support the police and INEC to make sure that any miscreant that is found to be disrupting the process is dealt with without any recourse to any kind of mercy.
“The AFN,members of the Nigerian Navy have been read the riot act,we have the conditionality for the conduct of the election which have been read to them and we have all been briefed as to our conducting the election, we shall maintain an exterior periphery in the general elections process and we’ll support the police, we shall give necessary escorts and protection when required, I want to assure you that the NN and indeed the Armed forces of Nigeria is ready to protect this process of election”
He said while the Nigerian Navy is primarily responsible for the protection of the nations maritime domain and also a major contributor to the Gulf of Guinea maritime security arrangement as well as a major participant in Internal Security duties all over the country, exercise and physical training remains the bedrock of Naval personnel’s daily mental and physical readiness for sea and ashore duties.
” It is pertinent to state that the commitment of the Nigerian Navy towards enhancing mental and physical fitness has yielded dividends as witnessed with the sterling contributions of the Nigerian Navy to national security, peace and prosperity. It is in recognition of this fact and the desire of the Service to keep the personnel physically fit that the Route March amongst other events are sustained in the Nigerian Navy Schedule of Events.
“Suffice to state that the performance we have witnessed today guarantees that the Nigerian Navy will continue to meet up with its constitutional commitments in collaboration with other security agencies in Nigeria to improve national security” he said.
He restated that the Nigerian Navy remains a formidable partner in the internal security operations across the Country,hence, the Nigerian Navy organizes a one-day route match every quarter aimed at raising the level of physical fitness of personnel in the NN.
He therefore, charged personnel to keep the flag flying by diligently performing their duties while maintaining utmost regard to human rights, be law abiding citizens and at the same time stressed the need to maintain cordial and improved relationship with civilian populace and relevant stakeholders.
“This is more so, that your duty to defend the territorial integrity of our fatherland will be meaningless if the Nigerian populace is not enjoying harmonious relationship with the Armed Forces. Similarly, we can only be proud if their safety and wellbeing is assured as law abiding citizen”.
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