The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, has reaffirmed that the welfare of Nigerian Navy personnel deployed in the Niger Delta remains his topmost priority, insisting that motivated troops are key to sustaining operational successes in the region.
Vice Admiral Abbas made the declaration on Tuesday during his maiden familiarisation visit to the Headquarters of Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation Delta Safe (South-South) and the Central Naval Command (CNC) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. The visit was the first by the CNS since his appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Addressing officers and ratings, the Navy Chief commended the JTF and CNC for their outstanding performance in securing the nation’s maritime domain and urged them to sustain the momentum.
“If their welfare is not seriously taken care of, I don’t think they can achieve what they have achieved,” he said, adding that the visit was aimed at assessing critical challenges faced by the commands with a view to resolving them promptly.
Vice Admiral Abbas emphasised the need for harmonious civil-military collaboration, stressing that securing the waterways cannot be achieved by the military alone.
“We need a whole-of-society approach. I can assure you we are working with whoever is ready to work with us harmoniously towards making our waterways crime-free and boosting the nation’s economy,” he said.
He reminded the personnel that Nigeria depends heavily on oil resources located predominantly within the maritime environment, particularly in the Niger Delta, and that the Navy remains the primary custodian of that domain.
In his welcome address, the Commander of Operation Delta Safe, Rear Admiral Oladipo Fahad, described the CNS’s visit as a testament to his exceptional leadership and commitment to security in the Niger Delta.
Rear Admiral Fahad reiterated that the JTF remains resolute in its mandate to protect critical oil and gas infrastructure, deter oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and militancy, while fostering peace and sustainable development across the region.
He highlighted the task force’s intelligence-driven operations, rigorous patrols, community engagement, and partnerships with sister services and local stakeholders as key to recorded successes in dismantling criminal networks and restoring stakeholder confidence.
“We remain committed to evolving our strategies to effectively counter emerging challenges,” Rear Admiral Fahad assured.
The JTF Commander expressed appreciation for the continued support of the naval leadership and pledged the unflinching loyalty of personnel under his command to the Chief of Naval Staff and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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