Transportation

Navy Rescues Passengers onboard Capsized Boat

By Web News 300

Personnel of the Nigerian Navy have rescued over 250 passengers onboard a capsized boat in Rivers State.

The three-deck wooden boat was said to have departed from a local market in the Sangana area of Bayelsa State around 10 pm on April 28, 2024.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Navy’s Director of Information, Commodore A. Adams-Aliu, said the boat was approaching Rivers State when it encountered stormy waters and collided with a rock.

The statement read, “The Nigerian Navy personnel of Naval Security Station 023 deployed along Cawthorne Channel in Rivers State rescued over 250 passengers who were onboard a capsized passenger boat at about 10 pm local time on 28 April 2024.

“The ill-fated boat, MV PRECIOUS EMMANUEL cast off from a local market in Sangana area of Bayelsa State and was making way to Rivers State when it encountered stormy waters and hit a wreck which damaged its hull causing it to capsize.”

Adams-Aliu noted that the boat was overloaded, lacked any life-saving equipment onboard, and none of its passengers were wearing life jackets

He said, “Notably, the locally made, three-deck wooden vessel popularly known as “Large Cotonou Boat” was overborne, had no lifesaving equipment onboard and none of its passengers wore a lifejacket. ”

He noted that no lives were lost in the incident due to the prompt response of its personnel.

“It was the vigilant eyes and professional response of NN personnel who swiftly undertook a rescue mission that ensured no life was lost.

“This rescue effort is in line with the Strategic Directive of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla which states that “the strategic end state of NN operations is a safe and secure maritime environment in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea,” the statement added.

He encouraged maritime operators to consistently ensure that their boats are equipped with life-saving equipment.

Adams-Aliu said, “Additionally, the NN wishes to reiterate the importance of lifejackets, life buoys and other life-saving equipment to local maritime operators. Provision and proper utilisation of such equipment are imperative to the safety of lives at sea.”

Lately, there have been too many boat mishaps recorded in the country.

Recently, popular actor Pope Odonwodo, popularly known as Junior Pope and three others died after their boat capsized in Delta State.

Punch / Titilayo Kupoliyi

Transportation

Navy Releases Survivors of Boat Mishap to Consulate

By Web News 440

The Nigerian Navy released two Ghanaian survivors of a boat mishap to the Ghana consulate in Lagos on Monday after receiving medical attention.

The Nigerian Navy ship rescued the foreigners after they had suffered a boat mishap around 10 pm while fishing on July 31.

However, the Navy confirmed that only two out of four fishermen survived the mishap as two drowned before the arrival of the rescue team.

In a statement released by the Command’s Information Officer, Western Naval Command, Edward Yeibo, on Monday, the Navy said it had released the two survivors to their consulate.

Part of the release read, “The rescued men; Mr Francis Cudjoe and Mr John Qualcoo were thereafter recovered to NNS BEECROFT, Naval Base Apapa, where they received medical care and attention. Today, 8 August 2022, NNS BEECROFT handed over the two rescued Ghanaian fishermen to the representatives of the Ghana Consulate in Lagos.

“While commiserating with the Ghanaian Community on the loss of the other two fishermen, the Commander, Naval Base BEECROFT, Commodore Malami Haruna, used the opportunity to reiterate the need for seafarers always to emplace all safety measures, including the use of life jackets within the maritime domain. He further stressed the commitment of the Nigerian Navy towards ensuring the safety and security of all seafarers within Nigeria’s maritime domain.”

Culled/Titilayo Kupoliyi

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Politics

2023 Election: Naval Chief Warns Officers to be Non-Partisan

By Web News 520

The Nigerian Navy has conducted its second-quarter 5km route march in all its formations across the country.

In Abuja, Over two thousand personnel of the Naval units participated in the route march.

The Route Match is aimed at enhancing the physical and mental alertness of officers and men of the Nigerian Navy to enable them to meet up with the challenges of naval operations.

The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans Navy, Rear Admiral Saidu Garba at the parade ground of the unit in Asokoro Abuja said their operational capacity is hinged on the physical and mental alertness of personnel hence the need for the regular exercise.

He also used the forum to call on all personnel to be non-partisan in the forthcoming elections as officers but could exercise their rights by getting their PVC and voting on the day of the election.

Vice Admiral Gambo urged personnel to always support the democratic rule of the nation and remain law-abiding as the country depends on security for development to take root in the country.

Chukwuma Agbanusi/Omotola Oguneye

Environment

Nigerian Navy Pipeline Operation to Cover Southwest

By Web News 1451

The Nigerian Navy says it has reviewed the scope of the its operations on pipeline protection, OP WATSE to cover the entire South West that in response to emerging security situation in the country. 

Flag Officer Commanding, FOC, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Jason Gbassa made this known at the Oke Mosan Abeokuta Governor’s office during a courtesy visit to the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun

While pointing out that OP WATSE had been renamed as Joint Taskforce, Operational WATSE, South West Region, the Rear Admiral Gbassa noted that Ogun state would benefit from the taskforce with more deployment towards curbing criminal activities in the riverine areas.

The Flag Officer Commander also announced plans to scale up its presence in the oil rich Tongeji Island. 

Responding, Ogun State governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun said his administration was working towards establishing the Nigeria Air force base and a Training School in the state.

Governor Abiodun while speaking on the efforts to build a port in the riverine areas of the state urged the naval command to strengthen security architecture in the state.

The Governor who donated a pickup truck to the naval command and a car to the Nigeria Navy Secondary School, Abeokuta also reiterated his administration’s readiness to continuously support security agencies in the state.

Bolanle Adesida

Sport

One Service, One Medal Games Begins In Abuja

By Web News 1510

Five hundred and ninety two athletes from nine Military and paramilitary agencies will take part in fifteen sports at the 4th edition of the One Service, One Medal Games which begins today in Abuja.

According  to a statement by the Media Office of the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Fifteen Military and Paramilitary Agencies had indicated interest to participate in the event which was earlier billed for Kaduna last year while nine Agencies eventually registered for fifteen sports.

Events to be competed for include Athletics, Table-Tennis, Tennis, Weightlifting, Squash, Badminton, Boxing, Shooting and Tug of War.

Others are Swimming, Golf, Chess, Beach Volleyball, Scrabble and Taekwondo.

Participating agencies are Correctional Service, Federal Fire Service, Nigerian Customs Service, Immigration, Nigerian Police, EFCC, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, NSCDC, Nigerian Airforce and Nigerian Navy.

Olaolu Fawole