Reps panel promises enough funding for Eastern Naval Command

House of Representatives Committee on Navy has promised that the National Assembly will explore all legal means to raise funds for the upgrade and renovation of dated facilities in the Nigerian Navy, Eastern Naval Command.

Its Chairman, Yusuf Gagdi, made the pledge during a facility tour of the Forward Operating Base, Ibaka in Mbo Council Area of Akwa Ibom State, which is under the purview of the Eastern Naval Command.

He said the National Assembly would ask the Federal Government to use any sourced funds to take care of the challenges in the Base, which have already been noted and compiled.

He noted that since the challenges of the Base were technical in nature, they would have to pass through professional consultants in the National Assembly to determine their financial implications.

Gagdi said the National Assembly would make funds available for renovation and upgrade of facilities at the Base, noting that his tour around the Base has shown that officers and men of the FOB were working, but were under strenuous conditions, which was not helping to maximise their output.

He commended the FOB Ibaka for their efforts, noting that the Navy was a forerunner that helps other security agencies in the fight against sabotage and economic crimes and as such, should be encouraged to do more.

“The most important reason why we are here is to see where the Navy is having issues and challenges towards Federal Government’s determination to ensure that our waterways are secured. We are not surprised to see the achievement recorded in intercepting some diesels meant for export to Cameroon and other countries.

“For our Navy to have helped the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian Police and other security organisations that are supposed to join hands in combating economic crime, I am happy as Chairman of the Nigerian Navy to see that the Navy are doing well.

“Anybody doing well should be commended and supported. They have their own jetty, but it is a problem to them. They are achieving their mandate, but do not have enough facilities to function in the area of jetties.

“As a Chairman of the committee, we have the right to cut and paste and that is what we are going to do to the Base, by ensuring that we cut some funds to paste where they are supposed to be.

Earlier, Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral David Adeniran said, “The visit of the Chairman and members of the committee is part of the National Assembly’s oversight functions.

“The visit enabled the committee scrutinise the use of funds and justify appropriations for more funding to meet the challenges of the command.