The Eastern Naval Command recently held Exercise Secure Response. Chiemelie Ezeobi reports that the exercise was designed to enable the command assess preplanned responses and state of readiness of units, ships and bases in
building habour defence capacity to effectively prevent and repel any form of attack by economic saboteurs
Charity they often say begins at home. No matter how cliche that has become, the truth behind it still resonates. For the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) of the Nigerian Navy (NN), it would be ironic if they are able to safeguard the maritime domain but fail to protect its flanks- the harbour of the command and base therein.
Exercise Secure Response
To show its capabilities in protecting its harbour, shore and even the sea, they recently conducted Exercise Awkward codenamed Exercise Secure Response.
According to the command, the purpose of the exercise among others was to reinforce the prevailing security arrangement of the ships, units and bases in the Eastern Naval Command in order to build capacity to effectively prevent and repel any form of attacks by economic saboteurs.
The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Sanusi Ibrahim noted that the defence of the maritime domain of Nigeria is synonymous to the survival and protection of key infrastructure and platforms across the nation.
However, the actualisation and sustenance of this task is highly depended on the ability of the NN to effectively secure its habour, exercise the men and platforms among others.
Consequently, as part of the Nigerian Navy Schedule of Events 2021 and in line with the Chief of the Naval Staff Strategic Directive 2021 – 5, the ENC activated Operation Awkward 2021.
The purpose of the exercise among others was to reinforce the prevailing security arrangement of the ships, units and bases in the command in order to build capacity to effectively prevent and repel any form of attacks by economic saboteurs. Additionally, the exercise was designed to enable the command assess unit’s preplanned responses and states of readiness.
According to the FOC, the scenarios were set against the prevailing threats within the ENC Area of Responsibility (ENC) to enhance the capacity/preparedness of own personnel to curb the activities of criminal elements and other undesirable miscreants that threaten the safety and security of lives and property in Nigeria.
Objectives
Accordingly, the objectives of Exercise Secure Response were to assess the capacity and operational readiness of ENC ships in harbour defence; assess the capacity and readiness of ENC bases and units in the conduct of base security; practice the participating units in the use of Maritime Domain Awareness assets in surveillance, threat assessment and operational engagement; and identify if any possible shortcomings in the capacity, training and doctrinal practices in NN harbor defence/base security procedures.
Participants
All ships, operations bases and units, including the Maritime Domain Awareness Centres in the Eastern Naval Command participated in the exercise.
Conduct
THISDAY gathered that ships were exercised on identifying the presence of frog men with the intent to lay limpet mines. Similarly, the bases were availed with the necessary report of suspected coordinated attacks by miscreants through the water front and land with the intent to carry out nefarious acts.
Also carried out during the exercise were the simulations to test ships, units and bases on medical evacuation skills as well as Civil Military Relations engagement during civil unrest or protest.
All these evolutions were geared towards enhancing personnel efficiency in line with the Chief of the Naval Staff vision to enhance the navy as a well – motivated and ready naval force in the discharge of her Constitutional mandate and other assigned tasks in fulfillment of national security objectives.
Overall Impression
At the closing ceremony, the FOC said the outcome of Operation Awkward 2021 was successful. Admiral Ibrahim noted that his assessment of the exercise was based on the overall performance of participating ships and units.
He was particularly impressed with the level of coordination and synergy by units in the command during the conduct of the exercise. He therefore implored officers, ratings and civilian staff of the command to sustain the zeal exhibited during the conduct of the exercise.
