Naval authorities charge graduating 196 personnel to eschew drugs

Authorities of the Nigerian Naval Engineering College (NNEC), Sapele in Delta State, have admonished 196 officers, who have graduated from the institution, to eschew indiscipline, drugs and other vices capable of derailing their focus.

The Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command, Rear Admiral Stanford Enoch flanked by Commandant of the college, Commodore Samuel Yahaya, among others, gave the admonition on Saturday in a graduation ceremony held for the successful graduands.

Rear Admiral Enoch affirmed that the Nigerian military would require the professionalism and knowledge of the graduands to address security concerns in the course of their duty as well as to make the Nigerian Navy self-sufficient in the area of local content.

“They have spent about four years and have been given the very best. This programme was interspersed with training attachment which also helped to enhance their skills.

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“However, when they go into the field, they are going to meet their superiors who have been on ground, so on the job training is very key.

“A few of them may have some other skills to exploit, to further improve themselves beyond what they have been taught.

“They should also exploit personal abilities to add value to the Navy so that overall, we will be able to have Nigerian content to maintain our ships and reduce our expenditure by importation from outside the country.

“They should realise that they have been in the training environment for a long period and going into the field, they should avoid temptations.

“They should also know that they could be deployed to perform duties order than just technical duties because they are military personnel first of all.

“And so, they must be disciplined, keep themselves away from trouble, from drugs and other vices that may reduce their work and value,” Rear Admiral Enoch admonished.

The FOC commended the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas for his investments in infrastructure, hardware, platforms and military education, stating that the college has recorded tremendous improvement in the training of its personnel.

The graduands, who comprised 196  trainees of the Artificer Course (A30B and A32A), Automobile Mechanic Course 20, Basic Mechanic Course 31, 3rd Rate Driving Qualifying Course, 2nd Rate and 3rd Rate Firemen Courses, were urged to always accord respect to their superiors.