The Immediate past Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command,Rear Admiral Joe Aikhomu,has  disclosed that small arms and ammunition as well as potable ballistics life-jackets, among others are inadequate in the navy armoury in the last one year.

Despite this situation, Aikhomu, however said Navy was able to bring cases of sea robbery, crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and piracy, among others, under control.
 
Correspondent Zubair Rasheed report that the outgoing FOC disclosed this at the headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command  in Calabar while handing over to the new FOC of the command, Rear Admiral Harry Ngonadi.
 
With the recent shake up in the Nigerian Navy,the eastern Naval Command is not spared as the change of batton in the command took place here at the command Headquarters Calabar.

First was the inspection of the guard,followed by the exchange of the command flagg,then the handing over proper.

Reflecting on the challenge facing the command, Rear admiral Aikhomu said the major constraints include inadequate platforms for the fleet and the operational bases; shortage of small arms and ammunition; and potable ballistics life-jackets; irregular supply of products to operation bases; spares for ships; manpower shortage especially seaman junior officers and junior rates of all branches, among others.

Aikhomu said during his one year tenure in the Command, the Nigerian Navy has been able to contain to a large extent the activities of sea robbers, closed down illegal refineries and mitigate sea piracy.even as he said  communities along the nation’s maritime boundary under his command have been properly secured from sea robbers and pirates.

The New FOC Rear Admiral Harry Ngonadi,who promised to continue the transformation in the command said it was the responsibility of the Navy to protect its citizens in riverine communities, who are largely marine agriculturalists and traders.

Ngonadi noted that though the task was challenging, with the collaboration of officers and men as well as with the right attitude and frame of mind, the Navy would continue to excel in service for the benefit of the citizenry.

The ENC covers a sea area of about 24, 000 square metres, stretching from latitude 6 degree 30 minutes east to longitude 8 degrees 30 minutes east with a coast line of about 120 nautical miles along Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Rivers state up to the 200 nautical miles seaward limit of Nigerian territory.






Correspondent: Rasheed Zubair.... Cross Rivers