- Seeks NUJ partnership on coastal surveillance
BY UBON EKANEM, CALABAR – As Nigerians prepare for another major political transition programme ahead of the 2023 general elections, the Nigerian Navy (NN) has reaffirmed its resolve to remain apolitical in keeping with global military ethics and best practices.
In doing so, the Navy High Command says next year’s polls would provide a veritable platform for its officers and men to demonstrate their avowed commitment to national unity, while solely restricting themselves to security matters, particularly in relation to protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity and its maritime economy.
This is as the Navy authorities also solicited partnership with the media in the task of securing the maritime areas, where the bulk of Nigeria’s economic resources are located.
The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) the Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Ibrahim A Dewu, who stated this when Executive members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Cross River State Council visited him, said the Navy would remain focused on its expanded military and constabulary roles, especially in the oil and gas sectors instead of being dragged into the political fray by politicians.
Rear Admiral Dewu also said keeping the maritime areas, where the bulk of Nigeria’s resources are located, safe and devoid of criminal activities have become an important national assignment that demands the involvement of all stakeholders.
The FOC said to kick start the expected robust partnership, NUJ members would henceforth be co-opted to join the team undertaking coastal surveillance of the creeks as a way of keeping the public objectively abreast of their operations.
He also pledged to reactivate the annual sea trip that was before now put in place to promote military-civilian relationships, adding that Union members would be expected to play a pivotal role in such military exercises.
On the disturbing issue of sensational journalism practice by some social media bloggers, the FOC urged NUJ to devise an ethical approach aimed at putting a stop to what he described as the “alarming wave of feeding the public with unverified and fake information”.
In his remarks, the NUJ Council Chairman, Comrade Nsa Gill said the visit was to intimate the FOC and Nigerian Navy authorities of the new Union leadership in the state as well as explore vital areas of cooperation for the overall good of society.
Comrade gill also used the opportunity to formally intimate the FOC and his management team of the forthcoming NUJ’s media week slated for November 2022.
