Navy plans 5-year officers’ non-re-deployment to boost family bonding

CHIEF of Naval Staff (CNS), Rear Admiral IE Ibas, weekend, disclosed that plans are under way to ensure officers of the Nigerian Navy are allowed to remain in a command for at least five years to engender family bond.

The naval boss added that the concept was also expected to enhance efficiency in operations embarked upon by personnel.

Rear Admiral Ibas made the disclosure during the annual end of year Nigerian Navy Ball, Delta Area held at the parade ground of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS DELTA), Warri, Delta State.

“We are also in the process of adopting an appointment and draft cycle concept called the Mother Base Concept which will ensure that officers and men are appointed or drafted within a command for a period of at least five years.

This is to encourage family life/bonding and also enhance operational efficiency of the NN,” he noted.

Speaking further on the significance of the family bonding, the CNS said, “Yes the five-year drafting appointment circle for the Navy personnel which comprises officers and directive, the idea is essential to reduce incidence of family staying apart.

“We have realized this in the recent past because of frequent requirement of officers and men moving from one location to another in meeting with the requirement of the service they get dislocated.

We are thinking of a model or a concept whereby the officers or directive will be at a particular location to serve there for at least years years.

Within that time, we expect the officers to be familiar within that unit in that location.

In this effort, we believe that family will enjoy better time among themselves, of course the children and all the rest, such that when the person is transfered to another location, they will have reasonable long time to stay with their family.”

The CNS, who was represented by Commander, Nigerian Navy Training and Logistics Command, Rear Admiral Ibe-Onwu, said the navy would continue to build on its recapitalisation of its platforms, requisite training and retraining, and welfare of personnel.

According to him, “the Navy has improved in technical and operational trainings through reinvigorated revision of curriculums of the professional schools and exploring foreign partners training assistance programmes.

Our maritime domain awareness vigorously pursued has brought about increased surveillance of the maritime space to obtain real time information of events at sea.

So, there has been drastic reduction in maritime crimes especially illegal bunkering, crude oil theft and piracy which used to be prevalent in our waters.”

The annual programme, which took place simultaneously in all other commands across the country, was graced by Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Central Naval Command, Mohammed Garba, Commander NNS DELTA, Commodore Joseph Dzunve among other officers.

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