“Hail troops and pledges continual support”
The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Oladele Daji has honoured all fallen members of the armed forces in the spirit of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day.
Daji made this statement during the commissioning of projects which held at the Western Naval Command, Apapa, Lagos State on Monday.
He said that the Armed Forces Remembrance Day holds every Jan.15.
According to him, two transit accommodation blocks were commissioned in Navy Town while structures at the Parade Ground Grand Stand, Beecroft Mart, Operations Room and Motor Yard and Main Gate were commissioned at BEECROFT, Apapa.
He commended the courage of all troops of the armed forces of the three services and other security agencies that were at the front lines right from the Niger Delta to the boundry of Niger Republic.
“However, I want to acknowledge the sacrifices made by our colleagues who have lost their lives through the supreme price in the course of duty to keep the nation.
“This, as far as the Nigerian Navy is concerned has translated into the catering of the families of our fallen heroes across the length and breadth of all establishments in the Navy.
“This is just the little that we can do to honour the memory of our departed colleagues,” Daji said.
He urged officers in active service to remain steadfast and committed to the task of preserving and upholding the territorial integrity of our dear country.
“We will also ensure to continue to protect our people so that they can carry out their legitimate endeavors, thereby contributing to the quest for comprehensive national development,” the FOC said.
In thesame vein, Daji charged Rear Admiral Uduak Ibanga, Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship, WEY, (NNS WEY), Navy Town, Ojo and Rear Admiral Ibrahim Shettima, Commander, NNS BEECROFT, Apapa to maintain the commissioned projects.
The FOC said that the transit accommodation buildings should be promptly and adequately maintained to ensure that the facilities provided for the comfort of the occupants are functional at all times.
“The blocks were conceived by naval headquarters as a quick impact project to address the acute shortage of residential accomodations of junior ratings drafted to various units in Lagos after their basic training.
“The two blocks consists of 74 self contained rooms with functional spaces such as laundries, kitchens, stores, dinning rooms and restaurants.
“There is no doubt that this will impact positively on the welfare of young ratings posted to various units and establishments in Lagos,” he said.
Daji enjoined the beneficiaries to exercise utmost care in the use of the facilities and strictly adhere to the regulations governing the use of the transit accomodations and other commissioned projects.
“By so doing, it will spur and encourage the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas to do more in the provision of decent accommodation for all categories of personnel,” he said.
The FOC said that the Nigerian Navy would not have accomplished all the developments witnessed over the past six years without the support of the federal government.
Daji, therefore, expressed gratitude to the Commander In Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment towards addressing the welfare needs of the Nigerian Navy.