Gambo, new CNS vows to punish officers who collude with drug peddlers, kidnappers

The new Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, has vowed to smoke out and outrightly deal with Navy officers collaborating with drug peddlers, kidnappers, armed robbers and other criminal elements to undermine national security.

Gambo who unveiled his mission statement during his maiden meeting with Principal Staff Officers, Flag Officers Commanding and Commanders of Autonomous Units of the Nigerian Navy at Naval Headquarters, Abuja, promised to consolidate established policies and measures to punish identified economic saboteurs in the Service.

The former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibot Ekwe-Ibas, had severally warned about the existence of subversive elements among the personnel.

Meanwhile, Gambo, revealed that his vision is “to leverage on all factors of national location, technology, training, teamwork and synergy to re-energise the Nigerian Navy and enhance her 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.”

The CNS stated that to achieve this vision, his administration would focus on some key drivers, adding that, “the current administration would ensure personnel welfare is accorded high priority towards enhanced patriotism, integrity, productivity, innovation, commitment and dedication.”

He said his administration will also focus on human capacity development through result-oriented training for enhanced professionalism and as well strengthening logistics support and maintenance capabilities to sustain equipment serviceability and platform availability.

“As part of the key drivers, the Nigerian Navy under the new leadership will reinforce the culture of self-sufficiency through sustained investment in R&D and prudent management of resources, promote inter-Service cooperation and forge strategic partnerships with MDAs, credible maritime stakeholders as well as collaboration engagements with international partners.

“Furthermore, the Service will promote and sustain the Nigerian Navy core values of Integrity, Professionalism and Teamwork. The CNS also stated that his Mission is ”to optimise the deployment of the Nigerian Navy in the performance of her Constitutional roles and the undertaking of assigned tasks while promptly responding with commensurate actions to other emerging national security challenges.”

Gambo however, pointed out that, the overall intention of his administration is to achieve immediate positive transformation in the nation’s security especially in the maritime domain, adding that his administration shall place a premium on human capacity development through higher training and education.

He directed all ongoing operations in the Nigerian Navy to check piracy, sea robbery, Crude Oil Theft and illegal refining of petroleum products to continue in earnest.

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