The new Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), of the Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Saheed Akinwande has promised to always protect and ensure a safer maritime environment in order to improve on the socio-economic wellbeing of Nigerians.
He stated this while taking over the mantle of leadership from his predecessor, Rear Admiral Olusola Oluwagbire, at the Eastern Naval Command Headquarters, yesterday in Calabar.
National-compass reports that Oluwagbire is now the new Chief of logistics at the Naval Headquarters, Abuja, after his ten (10) months stewardship at the Eastern Naval Command.
In his acceptance speech, the new FOC said no stone will be left unturned to maintain the relative peace enjoyed in the command.
He said concerted efforts will be made in collaboration with his new team to improve on the enviable standard set by his predecessor, notwithstanding the envisaged challenges ahead.
“I am indeed humbled and honored to accept the responsibility of leading an exceptional group of officers, ratings and civilians’ staff of this great command; that is the Eastern Naval Command. It is with a deep sense of gratitude that I take over the baton of the command this day.
“Just like the outgoing FOC mentioned. A lot had been achieved during his tour of duty and I remain committed to that; that is to further pushing the boundaries as far as securing the nations maritime environment that would create enabling environment for social economic activities to thrive.
“We are all aware that the nation’s maritime environment is the nation’s economic centre of gravity and we must remain committed in ensuring that all forms of threat within this environment is tackled so that the desired prosperity to our country and to our people is realized”, Akinwande partly said.
While reiterating the command’s resolve to be proactive towards securing the maritime space, the FOC urged every criminal element around to retrace their steps, adding that his leadership will make the environment uncomfortable for them.
He said all manner of crimes including illegal oil bunkering, sea piracy, illegal fish among others hitherto committed at the maritime environment will be checkmated.
“Again, I remain committed to doing the needful in making the environment indeed very very uncomfortable for them; that is for them to have a rethink that it would not be business as usual which has not been the case, anyway. It’s just for us to raise the ante as far as maritime security operation is concerned.
“In respect to our anti crude oil theft, illegal bunkering activities, illegal fishing activities, issues of piracy, issues of sea robbery; we remain committed to that and all resources would be geared towards ensuring that criminal activities, criminal elements would not have a field day as they have not always had in the command”, he added while responding to questions from newsmen.
Akinwande, who later solicited the support of officers, ratings and civilian staff of the command in order to succeed, expressed gratitude to God, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, and others for the opportunity accorded him serve.
Meanwhile, the outgone FOC, Rear Admiral Olushola Oluwagbire, in his farewell message, thanked the officers, and men of the command for the support given to him in order to succeed during his tour of duty, urging them to extend a hand of fellowship to his successor.
In the same vein, Oluwagbire expressed his profound gratitude to the governor of Cross River state, Sen. Bassey Otu, for the immense support given to the command under his watch.
The event among others featured the inspection of some landmark projects undertaken by the Rear Admiral Olusola Oluwagbire’s led command, handing over of the command’s flag, a parade as well as a goodwill message from the State Security Adviser, Navy Commander Patrick Bassey (rtd).
