The anticipated increase in commercial activities along the marine belt of River Niger is reason that necessitated the establishment of a Naval Outfit called Nigerian Navy Ship Lugard, in Lokoja.
Vice Admiral Jibrin Usman, Chief of Naval Staff, made the disclosure at a reception organized by the Kogi State Government in honor of participants for this years Chief of Naval Staff Conference held in Lokoja.
Vice Admiral Usman described Kogi State as a State highly endowed with yet to be tapped solid minerals and vast land for effective farming, said the establishment of NNS Lugard in Lokoja was aimed at providing security along the River Niger as well as reduce the activities of haulage and their danger to the nation’s road.
Vice Admiral Usman charged youths in the state to take the opportunity offered by the state government to be engaged in profitable ventures, adding that no meaningful development can be attained in an atmosphere of insecurity.
While he appealed to the youths to seek for knowledge through education and to acquire skills that will make them self reliant, he appealed to the youths to be peaceful in their conduct for meaningful development to be carried out by the state government.
Vice Admiral Usman disclosed that a Naval Command Drafting Unit for recording keeping of junior Naval officers would soon be established in Kogi State in view of its strategic location in the country, commended the partnership that has exited between the Navy and the Kogi State Government.
Earlier, Capt Idris Wada, Kogi State Governor, said the 2014 Chief of Naval Staff Conference, with the theme,” Transformation for enhanced Nigerian Navy” has become apt with the world plagued with myriad of security and financial problems in the face of dwindling financial resources.
The Governor who was represented by his deputy, Yomi Awoniyi, charged the Nigerian Navy to inspite the challenges, perform optimally and efficiently by remaining focus in their primary role in securing the nation’s maritime environment.
Capt Wada commended President Goodluck Jonathan for approving the CONSAC to hold in lokoja, said the state would remain grateful and committed to the transformation agenda.
