Navy Repositions Engineering Wing to Ensure Ships Availability

By Chiemelie Ezeobi

To provide the requisite maintenance intervention that would ensure ships availability, equipment serviceability and well-motivated workforce, the Nigerian Navy (NN), yesterday said it would reposition its engineering branch.

The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, made this disclosure at the closing ceremony of the Naval Engineering Retreat at the Naval Dockyard, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Noting that navies worldwide are known to be highly technical institutions where engineering plays a critical role in promoting its development and effectiveness, the CNS said ships availability, equipment serviceability were part of his vision for a thriving naval force.

The conference with the theme “Repositioning the Naval Engineering Branch for Effective Delivery,” was targeted at reorganising the structure of the branch.

According to the CNS, these pragmatic and essential changes to the career development of engineers would elicit the needed stimulus to reposition the branch for enhanced productivity and fast-track improvements in operational efficiency, downtime and availability of NN ships in line with the transformation drive.

He said: “One of the objectives of the retreat is to engender robust interaction and discussion on how best to reposition naval engineering branch through reorganisation, training, career management and best practices.

“The Naval Headquarters will continue to do all within its power to retain the confidence the government has reposed on the Nigeria Navy.

“This would entail us initiating and sustaining policies and programmed geared towards improving operational efficiency, effectiveness and cohesion within the service.

“In a broad sense, our gathering here is one of the many ways of enhancing the performance of the navy by addressing key issues that could impinge administration, training and practice of engineering, as such, this would ultimately improve organisational structure, training, practice and career development in the naval engineering branch, with a corresponding overall positive impact on the navy.

“The Naval Headquarters will study the recommendations of the retreat with a view to developing ways that would ensure successful implementation.”

At the event were former Deputy Governor of Bayelsa, Admiral GJ Jonah; Commandant, National Defence College (NDC), Rear Admiral Oladele Daji; Chief of Policy and Plans (CPPLANS), Rear Admiral Christian Ezekobe; Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Jason Gbassa.