Following the outbreak of the Boko Haram crisis, the frailties of the Nigerian military have been brought to the fore, with its lack of equipment highly apparent. It has been widely accepted that the Nigerian Army lacks tanks and the Nigerian Air Force lacks enough fighter jets, bombers and helicopters and now the Nigerian Navy has conceded that it is struggling too.
Chief of naval staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas, said: “We have more than 50% of our ships down and some of the problems are avoidable. I am always perplexed at the way we handle what we call government property.
“The truth is that we are short-changing ourselves because the money government gives us will go back go repairing those equipment. My vision is to develop a credible naval power in fulfilment of the Nigerian Navy's constitutional role towards enhancing national property and security.”
Speaking yesterday during a visit to Lagos, Admiral Ibas urged his officers and ratings to join the fight against oil theft on the nation’s waterways. Visiting along with his senior commanders, the chief of naval staff took a tour of the Nigerian Navy ship Quora, during which he warned officers to stay away from any form of illegal operation.
Admiral Ibas said: “I will not involve myself in any illegal act and I will not tolerate it. Nobody will or should use my name to perpetuate any illegal operation, so those excesses will no longer be tolerated.
“The nation is losing a lot through illegal activities and we must stop it. We must curtail illegal crude oil theft, bunkering and other prominent practices.”
He also demanded general affirmation from all the officers and ratings as regards their cooperation in fighting maritime illegalities on Nigeria's waterways. Admiral Ibas also told the men that it was the responsibility of the navy to protect the country's waterways, stressing that any breach in this responsibility was a sign of betrayal of the country’s trust in the navy.
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