Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, the Chief of Naval Staff, on Thursday lamented that some personnel of the Nigerian Navy are conniving with criminals to commit crimes on the nation’s water way.
He warned that any personnel caught would be dealt with according to the law.
Gambo spoke during the decoration of newly-promoted Rear Admirals at the Naval Headquarters in Abuja
He said, “While there are significant achievements in the various maritime crimes, there are pockets of personnel still colluding with criminals to sabotage these efforts.
“Let me therefore warn that any act of collusion with criminals to sabotage the measures in place to checkmate illegality will be met with stiff actions in accordance with the laws of the land. “
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, predicted that 2022 will be more challenging for the military.
He said although 2021 was challenging, the coming year would be tougher.
He, however, expressed confidence in the personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces to surmount the challenges.
He said, “The year 2021 was challenging, the coming year would be more challenging; challenging in various aspects.
“It is going to get tougher, not only in Nigeria, but across the world and of course our confidence is that we have corps of officers of the armed forces that would meet the demand of these challenges in 2022. Your promotion testifies to the fact that we need robust officers.
“As personnel of the Nigerian Navy, you occupy the centre stage of our economy. You must ensure that our economy is not brought to the lowest ebb. Our maritime domain must be kept of all manners of insecurity. “
Meanwhile, at the decoration of newly-promoted officers of the Nigerian Army, the Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (retd.), called on the officers to ensure normalcy is restored in the country by adopting new strategies in the course of their duties.
He also sought the support of all in ensuring Nigeria overcome its current security challenges.
The Chief of Army Staff, Major General Faruk Yahaya, urged the newly-promoted Major Generals to be ruthless against bandits, terrorists and other violent groups in the country.
