The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas on Wednesday pleaded with the Federal government to provide more vessels for the Nigerian Navy in order to fight insecurity in the nation’s waterways.
AVM Ibas made the plea in Abuja during the budget defence of the Navy before the House Committee on Navy.
According to him, the Nigerian Navy had in the last two decades confronted with the issues of insecurity and had so far been faced with the issue of policing the Nigeria waterways.
He stated that to effectively tackle this threat in the nation’s interest, the Navy had to be adequately given proper attention in the budget, its operations and other logistics
“Though the Federal government has in the recent time done its best but to enhance the Navy’s effort on fighting insecurity and defending the country against oil theft and other Naval related crimes, we are in dire need of more vessels in fighting crime on our waterways,” he added.
Speaking, the chairman of the committee, Yusuf Adamu Gagdi assured the Navy of the committee’s resolve to work assiduously with the Nigerian Navy in order to add value to its operations while engendering a safe and secure waterway and the defence of Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
According to him: “Like any other Armed forces in Nigeria, the Nigerian Navy is of strategic importance to the economy of this great nation, embedded in its traditional role of securing our waterways and maritime industry.
ALSO READ:Â Man, bags 7 years imprisonment for causing grievous hurt
“This brings to light the desire of this committee to give the Navy the legislative support required to achieve its mandate of tackling the menace of piracy, oil theft, bunkery and other maritime-related crimes
“We shall not renege on our sacred responsibility of providing the needed oversight on the activities of the Navy, but we shall have as our underlying principle, the idea of adding value to the Navy than being a cog in its wheel of progress by reason of unnecessary antagonism.
“We shall not misconstrue the concept of checks and balances to mean executive/legislative bickering, but we shall also, not fail to adhere strictly to rules and procedures in order to ensure that Nigeria and Nigerians are not shortchanged.”
He thanked the committee members commitment to work in unison towards actualising the goals and the legislative agenda of the 9th House of Representatives in their various assigned roles.
“As we look forward to an undertaking familiarisation tour of Naval formations across the country in the exercise of our oversight functions in no distant future, I call on the Naval authorities to be transparent in their dealings to forestall the possibility of any gridlocks with the committee
“This committee is willing and ready to work with the Navy as partners in progress for optimal productivity, but we shall not hesitate to wield the big stick where you are found wanting. Let me reiterate that the progress and development of Nigeria remain our topmost priority,” he added.
and then