The federal government has charged newly recruited 1,486 ratings of the Nigerian Navy to be disciplined, obedient, apolitical, and exhibit unwavering loyalty to the armed forces and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
It warned that it would not tolerate Acts of desertion and disloyalty as such acts will result in severe consequences.
Minister of state for Defence, Bello Matawalle, gave the warning at the Passing Out Parade (POP) of Nigerian Navy Batch 35 Trainees at the Nigeria Navy Basic Training School in Onne, Rivers over the weekend.
While noting that the ratings passed through rigorous training in physical fitness, swimming, combat skills, and weapons handling, preparing them for maritime and land operations, the minister, said that recruitment was a vital component of the navy’s capacity-building efforts to develop effective operational forces capable of addressing both internal and external threats.
He said the injection of the right manpower and skilled personnel is key to the ongoing expansion of naval fleet adding that the ratings went through six months extensive warfare and maritime combat training to equip them for the ongoing fight against oil thieves, pipeline vandals, and sea pirates, among other criminals.
According to him, “These young men and women are joining the Nigeria Navy at a time the Armed Forces need personnel with strength, courage, and resolve to combat the security challenges we face.
“They will be assigned to various units and formations to complement ongoing internal security operations,” the minister said.
“The navy is focused on enhancing capacity through infrastructural development, activating various operations, conducting technology-driven patrols, and platforms acquisition and recapitalisation.
“Two 76-meter Offshore Patrol vessels are expected to arrive from Turkey, along with three additional Fast Attack Craft from China among others, to bolster the navy’s fleet.
“I am pleased to report that Operation Delta Sanity, activated to curb oil theft, has increased crude oil production to 1,428,613 bpd from less than 1,000,000 in the past six months,”.