As part of the Nigerian Navy (NN) event for the year, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, embarked on an inspection tour to ascertain the overall operational preparedness of ships, units and establishments.
Rear Admiral Oladele Daji on Friday said that the bi-annual inspection was to access the readiness of both shore establishment and sea going ships while they do what they are supposed to do.
“So, we have gone round all the units under the WNC from Badagry, Lagos, Imeri, and we are capping it up with the inspection of the ships at sea.
“Earlier on, we had inspected the ships at harbour and the essence of the sea inspection is to actually ensure that all the systems, weapons, communications are functional,” he said.
He said that the fleets were ready for the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) annual inspection which comes up later in the year.
“The fleets are ready especially for the Chief of Naval Staff annual inspection that is starting with the shore establishment and the sea inspection will be sometime in December.
“We will keep working on where we have noticed some deficiencies and make sure that the ships and shore establishment are shipped-shaped to ensure that the mandate of each establishment is fulfilled in support and in fulfilment of the CNS strategy directives,” he said.
The FOC said that the inspection at sea achieved the desired objective by ensuring the state of equipment and personnels were functional.
“I would say the inspection of fleets at sea achieved the desired objective which is to access the state of equipment.
“As well as the level of training of personnels in conducting various operations in different operational scenarios.
“That we simulated at sea so as to prepare them for the real time operations as it comes,” he said.
The participating ships include: NNS EKUN, NNS PROSPERITY, NNS NGURU, NNS EKULU, NNS OSE, TUG UGWU and TUG RIMA, Detachment of Special Boat Service (SBS) and Nigerian Navy Helicopters.
During the exercise, manoeuvres and evolutions were conducted which included; Vessel Boarding Search and Seizure (VBSS), launching and recovering of boats, high speed Fleet manoeuvres, Gunnery Exercise, Action Station drills among others.
The inspection tour which started in Lagos area from Sept. 7 to Sept. 9 commenced with the inspection of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT.
Followed in quick succession was the inspection of Ships under the Western Fleet which included; NNS ARADU, NNS BARAMA, NNS CENTENARY, NNS EKUN, NNS IBUSA, NNS IKOT-ABASI, NNS ONITSHA.
Others are, NNS KARADUWA, NNS BENIN, NNS OSE, NNS OSUN, NNS UNITY, NNS PROSPERITY, NNS EKULU and NNS NGURU.
The Fleet Commander, Western Fleet, The Fleet Operations Officer and the Commander FSG WEST joined the FOC during the inspection of ships at harbour.
The FOC proceeded to Mobil Road Naval Barracks where he inspected the Obisesan Naval Medical Center, thereafter inspected Nigerian Navy Ship WEY, Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital, Ojo.
Other establishments visited are Nigerian Navy Primary School, Ojo, Naval Airbase Station, Ojo and conclusively for Lagos area, the FOC WEST further inspected the Naval Barracks, Okokomaiko and Forward Operating Base BADAGRY.
The FOC proceeded to Abeokuta where he inspected the Nigerian Navy Secondary School Abeokuta, thereafter proceeded to Ogbomoso where he inspected the Nigerian Navy Secondary School, Ogbomoso.
The FOC while in Akure paid a courtesy call to the Commander Headquarters 32 Artillery Brigade Nigerian Army and thereafter proceeded to Nigerian Navy Secondary School, Imeri. MJO/ISMA
