Army Chief Tasks 4,000 New Recruits on National Interest

•Nigeria partnering Ghana on maritime safety, says CNS

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja and Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Faruk Yahaya, yesterday charged newly recruited soldiers of the Nigerian Army numbering over 4,000 to put national interest over their interests and be professional as they discharge their duties in the field.

This is coming as the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, has disclosed that the Nigerian Navy is partnering with the Ghanaian Navy to combat piracy and maritime crime in the Gulf of Guinea.

A statement issued by the Nigerian Army Headquarters said the COAS gave the charge at the Passing Out Parade (POP) of 81 Regular Recruits Intake at the Depot Nigerian Army in Zaria, Kaduna State, where he was the special guest of honour and reviewing officer.

Congratulating the young soldiers for the successful completion of their training, the COAS noted that the training of recruits into the Nigerian Army (NA) was in fulfilment of Army Headquarters’ Training Directives in line with his vision to have “A Professional Nigerian Army Ready to Accomplish Assigned Missions Within a Joint Environment in Defence of Nigeria.”

He added that the POP marked another crucial chapter in the history of the training institution and the Nigerian Army as it welcomed a fresh set of well-trained soldiers into the noble profession.

He described Depot Nigerian Army as a key training institution responsible for moulding selected able-bodied citizens into well-trained and disciplined soldiers to meet the manpower requirements of the Nigerian Army necessary to execute the onerous task of tackling contemporary security challenges bedeviling the nation.

The army chief disclosed that the rigorous training undertaken by the young soldiers has transformed them into highly skilled and professional young soldiers, poised to enhance the strength and combat efficiency of the service.

He reminded them of the importance of the oath of allegiance to which they have all sworn, adding that by the oath they were under obligation to remain loyal to the Constitution and President.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo has disclosed that the Nigerian Navy is partnering with the Ghanaian Navy to combat piracy and maritime crime in the Gulf of Guinea.

This is coming as the Nigerian Navy has commissioned 1,482 ratings and sub- lieutenants from its training institutions to straighten its onslaught against onshore and offshore armed attacks in Nigeria.

Speaking at the passing out parade/commissioning of Direct Short Service Commission (DSSC) 28 and Special Duty Pre-Commission Training (SDPCT) 21 cadets of batch 31 trainees at the Nigerian Naval College, Onne in Rivers State, yesterday, the CNS said plans are ongoing for the establishment of a standing multinational task force in the Gulf of Guinea.

He stated that the nation was being challenged by asymmetric and internal security threats emanating from insurgent groups, banditry, kidnapping, warranting critical operational and security engagements of the armed forces of Nigeria across different theatres of operation.

“The Nigeria Navy has in the last couple of months brought to bear her dominant status in the West African region by sustaining an aggressive presence in the nation’s maritime environment, leading to the drastic reduction in acts of criminality in the Gulf of Guinea.

“The Nigerian navy has concluded collaboration efforts with the Ghana Navy to further combat piracy and maritime crime in the Gulf of Guinea. Plans are ongoing for the establishment of a standing multinational task force in the Gulf of Guinea.

“Also, the Nigerian Navy recently hosted the maiden virtual sea power for African symposium from 30th November to 2nd December this year. The symposium brought together 33 African navies and six other foreign navies.

“These efforts are targeted at improving information sharing, enhancing synergy towards the needed multi-pronged and multi-national approach with forced multiplier effects and positive implication for the Nigeria Navies maritime policing function towards the economic development and prosperity of Nigeria and the West African sub-region,” he stated.

The Naval chief disclosed that there were 196 DSSC and 1, 286 trainees of the rating cadre, saying of this number, 153 were males, while 43 were females, while 1, 286 trainees comprised of 1088 males and 198 females.

He said the Nigeria Naval College and the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School have remained the citadel of professional naval training within the nation and the West African sub-region.

He disclosed that two brand new offshore patrol vessels were being expected from Turkey, saying with the recent commissioning of the indigenous sea defence facilities, including NNS Orji, NNS Aba, NNS Kano, NNS Ekine, NNS Sokoto, and NNS Osun several maritime threats would be nipped in the board.