All posts by : Donald Onuoha

Visit of the House of Reps Committee on Navy as part of their Oversight Functions to ENC in October 2021. AIT News coverage of this visit is here: https://youtu.be/ALb2iHTy154

The attention of the Naval Headquarters has been drawn to a video clip of a purported attack by some security nuisances on a naval location in the Niger Delta in the Sahara ” Misreporters”…The video clip in question is a simulated assault on a militants location by Nigerian Navy Special Boat Service and only a disreputable news media would gobble such as fit for publication.

Please ignore as always!

Commodore Suleman Dahun,

Director of Information Nigerian Navy.

HIGHLIGHTS IN PICTURES:

The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo says the Nigerian Navy is set to establish an outpost at Ikang and a naval security station at Dayspring Island.

Both locations are in the Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River which shares maritime boundary with the Republican of Cameroon.

Speaking Thursday during a courtesy call on the state governor, Professor Ben Ayade at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Calabar, Vice Admiral Gambo explained that the move has become necessary “because we are aware of the security situation in the state- cultists, kidnappers and other criminal elements- and to that effect, it has been part of our strategic plan and I think it is expedient that speedily we establish outpost and security station in these locations so that we can improve our security architecture in the state and of course, secure our borders and around the Republic of Cameroon.”

Assuring the governor of the Navy’s commitment to the security of the state nay Nigeria, the Naval boss said “we have to keep our eyes open and to ensure that Cross River State and Nigeria at large is secured from that angle.

“We want to reassure you of the availability of the Nigerian Navy; we are at your service to ensure that Cross River State and her good people are safe and secured for economic prosperity and development

“I want to inform you, Your Excellency, of the ongoing general operations in the creeks around the state to ensure we rid it of all criminal elements; the cultists, the kidnappers and all that to make sure it is safe for maritime business to thrive since Cross River is a litoral state.

“In that regard, we are also collaborating with other agencies the Army, the Airforce and of course, the police and other security agencies in the state to ensure that the waterways are safe and secure for the prosperity of the good people of Cross River State”.

Continuing, Vice Admiral Gambo who said he was on an operational and administrative visit to Cross River expressed optimism that the Naval War College being built in Calabar will be ready for commissioning next year.

Responding, Governor Ayade commended the Navy for its security efforts in Cross River so far, which according to him, have “kept us out of the way of harm particularly knowing the complex nature of Cross River’s location vis a vis maritime security challenges.

“Very recently NNS Victory had undertaken several operations and I want to thank NNS Victory for their efforts in clearing out those bad boys from the creeks. Indeed, that has helped.”

The governor thanked the Naval Chief for the proposed Naval operational bases at Ikang and Dayspring Island, describing the development as deft moves to secure people of the area from criminal elements.

He however, pleaded with the Navy to also establish a base around Esighi where the Bakassi Deep Seaport project is sited.

His words: “We will need a strong naval presence, we will need a naval patrol across the entire length and breadth of our maritime domain.”

He pledged to sign the Certificate of Occupancy for the ongoing construction of Naval facilities in Calabar as pleaded by Vice Admiral Gambo.

Commander TO Otuji,

Command Information Officer.

The following web-links are for the videos and audios highlights of the Joint Sea Ex presented via the HQ ENC YouTube Channel. Please remember to subscribe, share and like the contents. Cheers!

Other news links:

Naval Commands Deploy Ships, Helicopters In ‘Ex Beni Kekere’ Sea Exercise.

Naval Commands’ Deploy Ships, Helicopters In ‘Ex Beni Kekere’ Sea Exercise

Naval Commands’ Deploy Ships, Helicopters in ‘Ex Beni Kekere’ Sea Exercise

******** Article published by Chiemelie Ezeobi, THISDAY Newspaper Reporter.  *******

In what was a multi-faceted deployment of assets of the Eastern and Central Naval Commands of the Nigerian Navy, both at sea and in the backwaters, Chiemelie Ezeobi reports that the recently held Exercise Beni Kekere was aimed at demonstrating their operational capability in securing the nation’s maritime domain, as well as the Gulf of Guinea waters.

For the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) and Central Naval Command (CNC), Exercise Beni Kekere was an opportunity to deploy ships, helicopters and men for a joint sea and shore exercise targeted at demonstrating their operational capability in securing their contiguous areas of responsibility (AOR).

To achieve this, both commands deployed a total of eight ships, two helicopters, Maritime Domain Awareness facilities and elements of the NN Special Boat Services (SBS).

At the flag off, the Flag Officers Commanding (FOCs), ENC and CNC, Rear Admirals Sanusi Ibrahim and Kennedy Egbuchalum, were both present in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

While flagging off the exercise, FOC ENC, Rear Admiral Sanusi Ibrahim said the sea exercise would also include anti-piracy operations, protection of oil facilities and Search and Rescue operations among others.

“The exercise nicknamed “Beni Kekere” means ‘Water Protection’ in Ijaw language and aptly captures the primary responsibility of the NN, which is to protect Nigeria’s maritime environment against all threats.

“The exercise involves a multi-faceted deployment of the two commands’ assets both at sea and in the backwaters, and is aimed at demonstrating our operational capability to securing our contiguous Areas of Responsibility. Our area of responsibility falls within the Niger Delta region in line with the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Awwal Gambo Strategic Directive 2021,” the FOC said.

He added that the sea exercise equally presents an opportunity to showcase NN’s commitment to the regional security arrangement in the Gulf of Guinea, which Nigeria is a major stakeholder, adding that “Nigeria’s maritime domain is dominant in the Gulf of Guinea with its enormous resources and remains strategic to our national security and development.

“We are also conscious that these resources have been persistently threatened by piracy, sea robbery, crude oil theft and illegal bunkering as well as Illegal Unreported and Unregulated Fishing among other crimes. The NN and other security agencies have achieved landmark feats in curtailing these threats, the persistence of the perpetrators requires us to re-strategise in order to consistently deny them freedom of action”.

The FOC said that it was in this regard that the Eastern and Central Naval Commands joint exercise, which was first of its kind in recent years, organised the sea exercise to “consolidate on the successes of the ongoing Operation CALM WATERS.

“Concurrently, the operational bases and Naval Security Stations (NSS) in the two commands will conduct clearance operations against criminals’ hideouts, and illegal refineries in the backwaters in collaboration with Op DELTA SAFE. I am positive that the joint exercise will add impetus to the CNS’ aspiration for improved maritime combat readiness of the NN through training,” he added.

He said that the sea exercise would equally provide the necessary ‘bite’ to the nation’s anti piracy law that was recently passed by the National Assembly. The Federal High Court last week passed judgment against 10 notorious pirates arrested by the NN on May 15.

“On behalf of the Eastern and Central Naval Commands, I express our profound appreciation to the CNS for providing the necessary support for the execution of this exercise. We shall continue to work assiduously to accomplish the NN quest for a safe and secure maritime environment,” the FOC said.

Similarly, the FOC, Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Kennedy Egbuchalum, said the reason for the maiden joint operations was because criminals at sea did not respect defined sea boundaries.

“Several times, criminals in the pursuit of their crimes crisscross the defined boundaries between the two commands. Therefore, the essence of the exercise is for us to enhance our collaboration and inter-operability which will give us greater cooperation in the cause of our going after these criminals that operate in our waters. Therefore, we will collaborate together such that wherever the criminals are whether in the Eastern or Central Command, we will be good to get at them,” he said.

Also speaking, Officer in Tactical Command, Commodore Olusanya Bankole, who doubles as CNC Fleet Commander, said the exercise would include six port operational bases, adding that  that five of the ships had already departed on Sunday for the sea exercise and that they would be joined by others after the flag off exercise.

“We also have the air assets and elements of the SBS that will be deployed with us and the exercise is of a continuous nature. I thank the FOC’s for allowing us to deploy the assets under their command and assure them that the assets will be used justifiably,” he added.

Several times, criminals in the pursuit of their crimes crisscross the defined boundaries between the two commands. Therefore, the essence of the exercise is for us to enhance our collaboration and interoperability which will give us greater cooperation in the cause of going after these criminals that operate in our waters.

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Screenshot of the THISDAY Newspaper article for reference below:

CODE NAMED EXERCISE SECURED RESPONSE

The defence of the maritime domain of Nigeria is synonymous to the survival and protection of key infrastructure and platforms across the nation. However, the actualization and sustenance of this task is highly depended on the ability of the Nigerian Navy (NN) to effectively secure its habour, exercise the men and platforms among others.  Consequently, as part of the Nigerian Navy Schedule of Events 2021 and in line with the Chief of the Naval Staff Strategic Directive 2021 – 5, the Eastern Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy activated OPERATION  AWKWARD 2021 code named “EXERCISE SECURE RESPONSE”  The purpose of the Exercise among others was to reinforce the prevailing security arrangement of the ships, units and bases in the Eastern Naval Command in order to build capacity to effectively prevent and repel any form of attacks by economic saboteurs.  Additionally, the Exercise was designed to enable the Command assess units preplanned responses and states of readiness.  The scenarios were set against the prevailing threats within the Eastern Naval Command Area of Responsibility to enhance the capacity/preparedness of  own personnel to curb the activities of criminal elements and other undesirable miscreants that threaten the safety and security of lives and property in Nigeria.

Objectives of the Exercise

The objectives of EXERCISE SECURE RESPONSE were to:

1. Assess the capacity and operational readiness of Eastern Naval Command ships in harbour defence.
2. Assess the capacity and readiness of Eastern Naval Command bases and units in the conduct of base security.
3. Practice the participating units in the use of Maritime Domain Awareness assets in surveillance, threat assessment and operational engagement.
4. Identify if any possible shortcomings in the capacity, training and doctrinal practices in NN harbor defence/base security procedures.

PARTICIPANTS

All ships, operations bases and units, including the Maritime Domain Awareness Centres in the Eastern Naval Command participated in the Exercise.

CONDUCT OF THE EXERCISE

Ships were exercised on identifying the presence of frog men with the intent to lay limpet mines. Similarly, the bases were availed with the necessary report of suspected coordinated attacks by miscreants through the water front and land with the intent to carry out nefarious acts. Also carried out during the Exercise were the  simulations to test ships, units and bases on medical evacuation skills as well as Civil Military Relations engagement during civil unrest or protest. All these evolutions were geared towards enhancing personnel efficiency in line with the Chief of the Naval Staff vision to enhance the Navy as a well – motivated and ready naval force in the discharge of her Constitutional mandate and other assigned tasks in fulfillment of national security objectives.

OVERALL IMPRESSION

The Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Sanusi Ibrahim during the closing session remarked that the outcome of OPERATION AWKWARD 2021 was successful. Admiral Ibrahim noted that his assessment of the Exercise was based on the overall performance of participating ships and units. He was particularly impressed with the level of coordination and synergy by units in the Command during the conduct of the Exercise. He therefore implored officers, ratings and civilian staff of the Command to sustain the zeal exhibited during the conduct of the Exercise.

Commander TO Otuji,

Command Information Officer.

Rear Admiral  SK  Ibrahim (FOC EAST) leading the Eastern Fleet during the recently concluded ENC Coordinated Sea Patrols in May 2021.

The Nigerian Navy has recently taken delivery of her first ever purpose-built Offshore Survey Vessel, NNS LANA.