Rear Adm. MG Oamen, the new Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command (WNC) of Nigerian Navy, has charged naval officers on discipline and respect for constituted authorities in the country.
Oamen gave the advice during a working visit to Forward Operating Base of Nigerian Navy, Badagry, and the unit of Naval Base in Tongheji Island, Lagos.
According to him, officers should keep to time, have integrity, be disciplined and be humane to citizens.
“If you are supposed to be at a place, be there at a standard time and do as per standard of operating.
“If you do not engage in any illegality, then the Chief of Naval Staff will be very happy with us as a command. In your conduct, as you interact with society, you must be above board.
“The Nigerian Navy, just like the other armed forces like the Nigerian Army and Air Force, are friends of the people.
“We are supposed to serve and protect them, so we do not need to antagonise, abuse or brutalise them. That is not part of our code of conducts.
“Combatancy is for you to be able to do your job well and have respect for the people you are working to protect, and make that clear. So, we need to learn how to engage them with mutual respect,” he said.
On professionalism, he said the first respect a military man gets is from his bearing and his dressing.
“In a situation you don’t dress well, you are already making yourself subject to disrespect. When you do the right thing, you get the respect of these civilians.
“We are all supposed to be brothers in arm. I am not saying you should become over familiarised to a point where you now become common.
“You have to conduct yourself professionally and I am sure you will get the respect that you deserve. Also, remember, do not compromise because of money.
“If we get anybody that has been involved in any form of illegality, just know that you will pay for it full blast,” he said.
The FOC observing the Guard of Honour at Forward Operating Base, NN, Badagry, Lagos
On his visit, Oamen said he was in Tongheji to first and foremost, to familiarise with what they were doing and also listen to them.
According to him, there is always room for improvement.
“I think FOB Badagry and our new unit in Tongheji Island, which is still under development, are doing well and what we will do is to encourage them as usual .
“The visit is to get more information about their activities and help them see where I can assist to improve in this unit.
“So far, I am very impressed. The FOB Badagry has been up and doing, the command has been assisting in anti-illegal smuggling and they have been assisting the custom and even in human trafficking.
“FOB has helped to recover more than 50 young girls who would have been trafficked out of Nigeria, and other criminal activities around this border area.
“I am glad that they are doing their job and all we are doing as a command is supporting them,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Commander Officer of FOB, Badagry, Navy Captain Augustus Amakiri, accompanied the FOC to the traditional ruler in Tongheji Island, to pay courtesy visit to Baale of the Island and operational places in FOB, Badagry.
