Adedapo Adesanya
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Navy has been commended by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) for the delisting of the country from the red list of the International Maritime Bureau.
The Director-General of NIMASA, Mr Bashir Jamoh, gave the commendation during a panel session at the ongoing 2022 Navy Week, marking the 66th-anniversary celebration of the security agency.
Mr Jamoh also advocated an enabling triangle which, according to him, signifies infrastructure, good governance and maritime security, as the enabler of the blue economy.
“Now I do take what I call in my book, harnessing the Nigerian Maritime Asset which in other words is called the blue economy. One of the recommendations was the enabling triangle; and the triangle signifies, infrastructure, good governance and maritime security.
“Now without these three things there cannot be an enabled blue economy.
“Good governance means administrative function of managing the sea and ocean. How do we ensure effective administration of the maritime domain in the Gulf of Guinea?
“Because if you cannot administer the waters in the Gulf of Guinea, it means that the issue of harnessing the blue economy in terms of fishing and other economic benefits in the Gulf of Guinea is going to be difficult,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Navy in collaboration with the Naval Officers Wives Association has carried out free medical outreach for the Onne community in Rivers State as part of activities for its 66th-anniversary celebration.
The Director of Medical Services, Nigerian Navy, Surgeon Captain Mohammed Salihu, said free medical rhapsody include free checkup for malaria, blood sugar, and blood pressure; free malaria treatment, hypertension, diabetes, and free eyeglasses, amongst others.
He was represented at the event by Surgeon Captain Ugochi Nzeribe-Abangwu, said the dental department is also on ground to offer thorough dental care to patients.
“We brought this free medical service to Onne as part of the 66th anniversary of the Nigerian Navy. We are here today as part of our corporate social responsibility, particularly to the communities where we operate. We are here today to offer free consultations, and free laboratory investigations, in areas of hepatitis, malaria, HIV testing, and blood glucose.
“We also offer free COVID vaccination to the community for those that are yet to be vaccinated. We also have over 500 eyeglasses to give out today. The eye department is fully on the ground to assist them in that area. We also have the dental department checking the all-around needs of the community. We have tubes of toothpaste, toothbrushes and many procedures,” he stated.
Also speaking, the President of NOWA and wife of the Chief of Naval Staff, Mrs Aisha Nana Gambo, said the medical rhapsody was targeted at reaching about 2,000 patients in Onne, as the community hosting Naval facilities.
“The event we are witnessing today which seeks to further strengthen the relationship between the Nigerian Navy and our host communities is one in the series of civil-military relations, usually embarked upon by the Nigerian Navy as part of its constitutional responsibility of securing Nigeria’s maritime environment.
“Let me use this opportunity to remind you all that security is the collective responsibility to every one of us. At this community level and grassroots, so much is expected of you in passing relevant information to the Naval Base and other security agencies close to you. By so doing, we can work together to ensure that our society is safe, secured and free from criminal elements,” she said.
