The Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Mohammed Garba, has urged the newly promoted senior officers of the command to key into the change agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari by changing from their old ways.
He also encouraged them to provide the motivational leadership required to stop illegal activities in the Niger Delta region.
Garba spoke at the Headquarters of CNC, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State at a ceremony to decorate the promoted officers with their new ranks.
He said, “Change is no longer a new concept. You have heard about it since the coming of the President. We must change our way of life. We must change infrastructure, the structure and our attitude to life generally to reflect the change concept.”
He stated that the officers must account for every money given to them and follow the strategic directives of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, in the course of discharging their duties.
Officers promoted from Lieutenant Commander to Commander included Olusegun Owolabi, Geofrey Osuobeni and Edward Yeibo, the command’s Public Relations Officer.
While Commanders Benjamin Onalo, Abdulazeez Zubaru and Tuku Mohammed were elevated to the rank of navy captain; Capt. Mustapha Hassan and Capt. Ayuba Chugale, were decorated with the flag rank of commodore.
Addressing them, Garba said, “You are among the most senior public servants in Nigeria. In the course of your duty, you can pay the supreme sacrifice, which is death. You must remember the conceptualization of your job.
“For you to deliver on the mandate of defending the territorial integrity of the country, you must bend the will and break the will of the enemy.”
Garba assured residents in the region that the Navy was doing everything possible to secure the waterways at all times.
He added, “We are doing all it takes to ensure safe waterways for economic activity and for legitimate use. Anybody bent on illegal activities will be arrested and taken to prosecution agencies.
“On reduction in bombing of oil facilities, we are going to put pressure on those criminal gangs to ensure that oil production is enhanced. All security agencies are on the alert to make sure no crime is committed.”