By Bolaji Okunola
The new Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Mohammed Abdullahi, has sent out warning to sea robbers and criminals disrupting maritime business to keep off waters within the command’s area of responsibility or be dealt with.
Admiral Mohammed Abdullahi gave the warning while assuming command as the new FOC of the command, promising to work assiduously to ensure that criminals do not have their way in the command’s area of responsibility.
Admiral Abdullahi was appointed the FOC recently after a major re-organisation in the force, which saw the former FOC, Rear Admiral Joseph Akpan, moving to the Naval Headquarters as Chief of Policy and Plans (CPPLANs).
He warned that the Western Naval Command would be a “no go area” for criminals, noting that no stone would be left unturned in fulfilling the navy’s constitutional roles of policing the waterways and ridding it of criminals.
He said: “I believe in the core value of teamwork and professionalism, and together I believe we will conquer. We will do well as a command to make sure that the navy’s constitutional role of defending the maritime territorial integrity and policing roles are all discharged with utmost professionalism.
“I want to thank the outgoing FOC for doing well because he has achieved a lot. For the rest of us, I solicit your support because it is our navy, and I believe all of us will do it well because no man can do it alone.
“I’m also promising that I will do my best to make sure we double our effort as a command. I’ll show a great leadership spirit, which is to carry every one along. The aspect of welfare you talk about will never be taken for granted. We are going to work hard and embrace the spirit of professionalism.”
Earlier, the former Flag Officer Commanding [FOC] Western Command, Rear Admiral Joseph Akpan, urged officers and men of Western Naval Command to work towards eradication of illicit drug, smugglers and other criminal acts within the country’s waterways.
Admiral Akpan had earlier inspected a parade mounted in his honour by officers and men of the command, where he urged personnel of the force to support his successor. He also warned criminals to stay off Lagos waters “because any attempt would be resisted from the surface and the skies.”
He said: “Curbing of criminal acts, such as illicit drugs, across the border smuggling and others have been a major act that has been eradicated and I’m glad Lagos command is now a no go area for such. I said in my speech that if one gets to a place, one should always have the underview of what one wants to do and that’s what I did in the command. I want to strongly advise my successor.
“I did a lot in the area of welfarism, although there are some challenges I passed through making sure the working environment of officers is conducive. Getting to the table, I realised a leader must be dynamic and reciprocal while trying to get people to do the needful. I will advise my successor to equally have that at the back of his mind. I also tried making the health issue of people my top priority.
“I usually visit the hospital to inspect patients alongside my wife. We came across a patient that attempted suicide and we rescued her, inspired her to glory and now she has a course she is doing. We also met a lady who gave birth to triplets and we rescued her financially and morally, which I’m sure such a good act won’t stop.”