Navy Tests Personnel Fitness for Military Duties

By Chiemelie Ezeobi

To ensure that it’s personnel are fit to carry out their military duties, especially in the face of insurgency and militancy bedevilling the North-east and Southern part of the country, the Nigerian Navy yesterday conducted a physical fitness test on it’s officers and men in Lagos.

Leading the personnel in the 10km route march, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Ferguson Bobai, said it was targeted at keeping personnel fit for military duties.

While addressing the personnel at Navy Town, Ojo, where the route march started from and headed to Kirikiri Prisons and back to Navy Air Station, the FOC said it was also to foster esprit de corps.

He said, “The event is targeted at keeping personnel fit for military duties, fostering esprit de corps and providing an avenue as well as to deter criminalities in the command’s area of responsibility.

”In the face of current security challenges in the country, the need to keep personnel fit for operation cannot be overemphasised.

“This is why fitness and mental alertness are among the critical element of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ette- Ibas’ policy thrust.

”It is with this in mind that the Nigerian Navy organises the one-day route march every quarter aimed at raising the level of physical fitness of personnel in the command.”

Bobai also advised officers and men to continue to be law abiding citizens, while stressing the need to maintain cordial and improved relationship with the civilian populace and relevant stakeholders.