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General News of Saturday, 13 February 2021

Source: thenationonlineng.net

Ex-Chief of Naval Staff pulled out amidst fanfare

Ex-Chief of Naval Staff pulled out amidst fanfare Ex-Chief of Naval Staff pulled out amidst fanfare

Dignitaries from all works of life on Friday converged on the parade ground of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) QUORRA for the pulling out ceremony of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, the immediate past Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS).

Defying the usual Apapa gridlock and despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the guests, including Lagos Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, his Cross River State colleague, Prof. Ivara Esu; wife of Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mrs. Martha Udom; former Cross River State Governor, Donald Duke; Minister of State for Power, Goddy Agba; Chairman, House Committee on Navy, Yusuf Gadji; Managing Director (MD) Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Hadiza Bala-Usman Director-General (DG) Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Authority (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh, as well as past military chiefs who were already seated before 8:30am, watched with excitement the colourful valedictory parade commanded by Lieutenant Commander MO Abdullahi.

After the parade, the former CNS mounted a decorated open land rover jeep with his wife, Mrs. Theresa Ibas, which was pulled from NNS QUORRA to NNS BEECROFT where the retired senior officer boarded a boat and set sail.

For most of the guests, attending the ceremony was a way to appreciate Admiral Ibas for the innovations the navy witnessed under his watch, especially in the area of fleet recapitalisation, barrack renovation and tackling maritime crimes.

Remarkably, the navy arrested a total of 4,229 suspects, seized 404 vessels, 439 barges, 531 speed boats, 2,977 wooden boats and 140 tankers for various maritime offences under Ibas’ watch. It also destroyed 5,099 illegal refineries and by so doing, saved the country hundreds of millions from crude oil theft.

Delivering his farewell address, Ibas said he was fulfilled and satisfied to have served the country through the navy despite not setting out to be a military man.

Expressing thanks to President Muhammadu Buhari for the support given the Navy, Ibas urged officers and ratings of the service to remain committed and patriotic because the country relies on them to fully reinstate order in the maritime space for the peaceful harvesting of economic resources.

To the officers and men, he said “the returned opinion is that you have done exceedingly well in the past but you can do better. I therefore urge you to rededicate yourselves to your tasks and responsibilities and make an exemplary discharge of your service a certainty of your life and a routine.”