Navy To Establish Operational Base In Enugu, Says CNS

By Winnie Kodilonye

Authorities of the Nigerian Navy have made plans to establish an operational base in Enugu State to improve the security of lives and property by securing the state’s coastal areas.

The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, made this known in Enugu during his visit to the State on Friday.

He stated that the Nigerian Navy as an arm of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, has three primary roles which include, being the

protection of the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty from the maritime domain; the policing role; as well as the diplomatic role, noting that the Navy has not really extended its policing roles to Enugu State and that the time has come to do so.

He further noted that Enugu State has a navigable river around Uzo Uwani Local Government Area and that plans were on

ground to extend Naval operations to encompass and cover the broader spectrum of the State, maintaining that the river used to be a seaport during the colonial era, but it has been abandoned.

He sought the support of the Enugu State government for the initiative towards showing presence within the Uzo Uwani seaway,

stressing that with a better policing of the area, it will give assurances to investors, who will now invest in the development of that seaway for the benefit of the people of Enugu State.

“Our operations there will be aimed at providing internal security operations both

through area surveillance and patrol in such a manner that economic activities can thrive without hindrance” he concluded.