The Nigerian Navy has concluded all arrangements to hold a two-day retreat for robust introspective discussion on the state of the Navy with a view to develop sustainable strategies for mitigating the evolving challenges it faces.
This was disclosed by Chief of Policy and Plans of the Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral Johnson Olutoyin at a media briefing on Friday in Abuja.
The retreat is schedule to take place between 30th November and 1st December, 2015 in Asaba, Delta State.
The theme of this year’s retreat is “Nigerian Navy and Emerging Maritime Security Challenges.”
Rear Admiral Olutoyin said the retreat is an opportunity for periodic appraisal of the Navy’s performance, adding that it will help in re-assessing the processes and procedures adopted for its operations.
According to him; “The challenges in the Nigerian maritime environment and the Gulf of Guinea has gone from traditional smuggling and other illegal activities to organized local and international crude oil theft coupled with pressure from climate change, marine pollution amongst others”.
The retreat will feature presentations on crucial areas of naval operations.
It will address emerging maritime security challenges and imperatives for the Nigerian Navy to focus on discipline of personnel as well as the need for an improved inter-agency cooperation for maritime security.
There will also be discussion sessions aimed at gathering ideas, then plenary session that will lead to adoption of a communiqué.
“It is apposite to envisage that at the end of the retreat, workable strategies will be developed for repositioning Nigerian Navy to adequately respond to the contemporary as well as emerging maritime security challenges bedeviling the nation, and in so doing, contribute substantially to the nation’s well-being, Olutoyin concluded.
