Bayelsa state Governor commends Nigerian Navy for professionalism

Oru Leonard

The Governor of Bayelsa State in Nigeria, Honorable Henry Seriake Dickson, has commended the Nigerian Navy for exhibiting high professionalism and reducing maritime crimes in Bayelsa waterways.

Gov Dickson made this commendation when he paid a courtesy call on the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas on Monday, May 6, 2019.

The Governor noted that the efforts of the Navy had reduced maritime crimes such as piracy, kidnapping, crude oil theft, illegal bunkering and related crimes in the water ways.

According to him, “the water ways of Bayelsa are the safest in the country mostly due to the collaborative efforts of the Nigerian Navy.”

The Governor also praised the Nigerian Chief of Naval Staff and the leadership of the service for the exemplary conduct of Naval personnel during the last general elections in the country. He recalled that Naval personnel carried out their sensitive security responsibilities during the 2019 elections with strict adherence to their terms of engagement, professionalism, integrity and a high degree of competence.

The Governor who said that he and the political leadership were proud of the Navy, prayed that the tradition of professionalism, integrity and competence be sustained in the service and indeed observed by other services in the country.

“I want to single out your men for commendation on a very crucial issue. I have written to your office and I think it is also proper that I mention it here also. You are aware of the controversy that followed the last elections over the activities of some agencies. Your officers and men carried out their duties with dedication and integrity.

“As a state, we don’t have any complaints against your men. We are very pleased, we are proud of the Navy under your leadership. We pray that this spirit of professionalism, integrity and competence continues in the Navy, and other services of the Armed Forces. We are indeed pleased with the services of the Navy, the activities and performance of your men.” He said.

The Governor thanked the Federal Government for the establishment of the Central Naval Command, Yenagoa, the NNS SOROH, NNS FORMOSO and other naval formations in the state and called for better funding for the Armed Forces and the Security agencies.

He promised to hand over the land required for the permanent sites of the naval formation other projects to the service as soon as the issues around them were perfected.

In his remarks, the CNS, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, commended the Bayelsa State Governor for giving the requisite support to the Navy to aid the performance of its duties in the maritime sector. He said that the Navy would be encouraged to do more in curbing maritime crimes with support from stakeholders of geographical locations benefitting from its services.

The CNS agreed with the Governor that there was a visible drop in insecurity in the maritime sector because of the support and sustained efforts of the Navy. The Navy Chief warned against illegal crude oil refining, theft of crude oil and their effects on the environment.