Chinese govt challenges Nigerian Navy on inter-service cooperation

The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Olufemi Oluyede, has called on the Nigerian Navy to continue to encourage the inclusion and cooperation of sister agencies in some of its activities.

Oluyede, who made the call in Onne, Rivers State, while speaking at the inaugural 10km jog/walk exercise organized by the Nigerian Naval College, Onne, said such inclusion promotes interagency relationship and cooperation.

He praised the Navy for its integration approach, which encouraged the full involvement of sister agencies such as the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Police, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Customs Service , the Nigerian Immigration Service and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC).

The COG, which was represented by the Nigerian Army 6th Division Garrison Commander, Brigadier General Saidu Tilawan, therefore advised the Navy to change its slogan “Forward Together” to “Nigeria Forward Together”, noting that this was necessary in this new cooperative mood.

He also charged sister agencies to learn from the Navy, stressing that such cooperation could promote interagency understanding.

The Army Chief said: “I say congratulations for a good performance. There is a saying with the Nigerian Navy, ‘Nigerian Navy, Forward together’, but what I have seen today is no longer, Nigerian Navy Forward together.

“The vision of the Chief of the Naval Staff has elevated this slogan from ‘Nigeria Navy Forward Together’ to ‘Nigeria Forward Together’ because here we have representatives from all the military services, paramilitary organizations, civilian organizations, friends of the civilian population, all gathered together to participate in the inaugural edition of the 2023 10 km walk and jog exercise.

“This is a good testament to the vision of the Nigerian Navy in that they are at the forefront of inter-service cooperation, civil-military cooperation and community relations cooperation.

“In the words of General Douglas MacArthur, a famous general, he said that the first duty of all military personnel is to keep fit. Because when you’re out of shape, it’s hard for you to execute the basic requirements of the military profession.

“I was here a few days ago when the Nigerian Army Basic Training school had their hurdle competition, I was very impressed. It was the most complete and complete exercise I have ever seen.

“So, on behalf of my General Officer Commanding the 6th Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General O. Oluyede, I congratulate the Nigerian Navy and the Commander of the Nigerian Naval College, Onne, for organizing this most interesting and beneficial occasion”.

Earlier in his speech, Nigerian Army College Commander Onne, Commodore Pakiribo Anabraba, explained that the essence of the exercise was to keep Nigerian Army personnel, including sister agencies and members of the public, alert and fit. .

Anabraba said: “The aim of this exercise is to bring together the Nigerian Navy and all the other sister agencies, as well as the host communities, to interact in a more conducive atmosphere, so that when they see each other operational they can cooperate. No problem.

“I must say that the Nigerian Naval College, Onne, has enjoyed a cordial relationship with its host communities and other stakeholders, sister agencies and paramilitary services. Therefore, this 10 km walk/jog is one of the activities set to further reinforce the existing relationship.

”Remember that in the past, the College had organized a medical rhapsody, an environmental sanitation exercise. So this is another exercise led by the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral AZ Gambo to ensure that the naval units engage very well with their host communities.

“Of course, if you don’t stay in shape, there’s nothing you can do. If you are not physically and mentally fit, you cannot even think. This exercise is to keep us in shape. We have started it, we are going to continue”.

The 10 kilometer jog/walk exercise, which involved more than 157 participants, took them from school to the roundabout and back to school.

Constable Tsegha Emmanuel of the Nigerian Police Force, Bonny Division and Sergeant Asedo Queensley of the Sports Secretariat, Nigerian Police Headquarters, Rivers State Command, respectively, were the first male and female participants to arrive from the run/walk of 10 km.

Gifts were given to them and to other participants. Some participants, including DSP Briggs Asigoboka, a Nigerian Police Sports Officer, Kennedy Onuoha, a Notore (NAFCON) staff member and Daniel Ekpah of the Nigerian Maritime Academy, who spoke to reporters in an interview praised the Navy. for the exercise.

The event, which attracted commanders from other military units and formations, commander of the Nigerian Naval Basic Training College, commanders of ships and establishments, chiefs, representatives, members of federal government parastatals, senior officers, family members of staff, school friends and the general public, it was the first of its kind.