By ONYEKACHUKWU MELUWA, Warri
The Commanding Officer, Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Saidu Suleiman Garba on Friday appealed for the cooperation of the traditional rulers and other relevant stakeholders to combat insecurity in Delta State in particular and Niger Delta in general.
Rear Admiral Suleiman Garba made this appeal when he paid a courtesy visit to the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Dr Emmanuel Sideso (JP) and the Olu of Warri, His Royal Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli at their separate palaces, AUTHENTIC News Daily reports.
Garba said the courtesy call became necessary as the command is working with the directive of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ette Ibas to ensure peace and security is in the area.
He also said the command is in sensitization tour to educate the youths, the various stakeholders to partner with the command to ensure that various crimes such as kidnapping, pipe line vandalism bunkering other social crimes in the state become the things of the past.
He said:” the Command is working with the directive of our boss, we are out to seek the cooperation of traditional rulers and other stakeholders to ensure that peace returns to the region for growth and development”.
A two story building that contains 6×2 Senior Rate accommodation was also commissioned by the flag officer commanding central Naval command. Rear Admiral Said uSuleiman Garba DSS, PSn, Mni.
“He said shotly after the commissioning that the increasing challenges that we have in the nation has nersesitated that we should take in additional personal across board.
Each comes with it’s own collateral consequences some of which is the need for additional accommodation for the personal that are taking in to the service.
Accordingly, the chief of the Naval staff in line with it’s strategic nobol directives has engaged in continious construction of buildings to accommodate in respect of rating an officer’s.
What you are seeing now is one of such initiative that is been undertaking by the chief of the Naval staff. This scurt across the entire Nigeria Navy. Just last two weeks, am sure if you have noticed that there are so many of such building’s Commissioned in Lagos as well as the jetti and other projects.
So this is part of the project that is been commissioned in line with our anniversary program for the Nigerian Navy”.
Other officers Together with Rear Admiral Garba on the commissioning are :
1. Flag officer commanding centra Naval command Rear Admiral Said Suleman.
2. Commander NNS Delta. Commodore I.A Dewu.
3. Command Operations Officer, Commandore R.M Shammah.
4. Commander BMU Capt, SM Obembe. And .
6. commanding officer FOB Escravos. Capt, SM Tasiu
7. Stt Part Dike
Men of the force said the only way to attract investors to the area is when there is peace saying there can not be growth and development in the atmosphere of rancor.
In their separate responses, the two royal fathers, the Ovie of Uvwie, HRM Dr. Emmanuel Sideso and the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli appreciated the visit of the Rear Admiral Saidu Garba and his entourage and prayed for the continued smooth relationship between them and the command.
The duo said the only way there can be total peace in the state in particular and the Niger Delta in general is for the government at the different levels to provide employment to the teeming graduates. They said many of the youths are not engaged hence they have the time to cause mayhem.
Speaking specifically, the Olu of Warri said, the Federal government should revamp the moribund Warri Sea Port and Export Processing Zone(EPZ) Project in Escravos which its ground breaking was done by the former President, Goodluck Jonathan as that can create enough employment to thousands of youths in the area.
The highlight of the visit was the prayers offered to the naval boss and his entourage and the presentation of the plaque to the Ovie of Uvwie and the Olu of Warri by the naval boss amidst cheers.
