A WELCOME ADDRESS BY THE CHIEF OF THE NAVAL STAFF VICE ADMIRAL AZ GAMBO AM GSS psc ensp (RSA) MTM MNIM MUSNI FCIS FIIPS FCAI ON THE OCCASION OF THE 2021 CHIEF OF NAVAL STAFF ANNUAL CONFERENCE HOLDING AT THE CORONATION HALL OF KANO STATE FROM 2 – 3 SEPTEMBER 2021
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1. It is a great pleasure for me to on behalf of officers, ratings and civilian staff of the Nigerian Navy heartily welcome you all to the Nigerian Navy 2021 Chief of the Naval Staff Annual Conference. I would like to begin by specially acknowledging the presence of our Special Guest of Honour, His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje who doubles as the Chief Host. May I also most respectfully welcome other Executive Governors here present comprising:
- Jigawa State; His Excellency Alhaji Badaru Abubakar,
- Kaduna State; His Excellency Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai,
- Katsina State, His Excellency Aminu Bello Masari,
- Kebbi State, His Excellency Abubakar Atiku Bagudu,
- Sokoto State, His Excellency, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal
- Zamfara State, His Excellency Bello Matawalle,
Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members of Houses of Representatives and Assemblies, Honourable Ministers and Commissioners, the Chief of Defence Staff, Service Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police, Heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, our Royal fathers and other political leaders here present. Permit me to equally acknowledge the presence of former Chief of Defence Staff and Service Chiefs, executives of multinational organizations, captains of maritime industries and the Academia, very senior serving and retired military officers and indeed all our esteemed guests and participants for being part of this important Conference. Indeed, it is heartwarming to witness this array of distinguished personalities, political leaders, heads and representatives of stakeholders across the nation. This has further established our collaborative commitment towards finding solutions to the maritime security challenges in our common resource.
2. Your Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, let me state here that this Conference is organized as one of the programmes lined up for this year to ensure the NN meets her constitutional roles. It is therefore important for me at this juncture to stress the import of organizing this Conference. As you are aware, the Nigeria Navy is saddled with the mandate to secure our maritime environment which possesses strategic importance to the nation’s economy. As such, the current security threats in the environment are of serious concern to all of us gathered here today as well as the larger Nigerians. What is perhaps more disturbing is that much of the criminal activities in our maritime environment are directed at the economic life line of Nigeria. In other words, the scourge of illegalities, such as sea robbery, piracy, crude oil theft, poaching, human and illicit trafficking of weapons and drugs among others constitute serious challenges to the development of the country and the region at large. Characteristically, the maritime threats have become of major concern and are evolving and challenging the combat capability of the Nigerian Navy and other stakeholders.
3. Looking at most of the recent happenings especially the one posed by the global pandemic leading to economic challenges, it is clear that one of the major implications of the emerging security situation is the dearth of effective collaboration in maritime policing. The present situation thus calls for constant reappraisals, greater collaboration as well as inter-agency cooperation among stakeholders. In recent times, some federal and local initiatives were initiated towards ensuring greater productivity of security efforts. These initiatives testify to the political level commitment to security and developmental imperatives in our maritime domain. Other initiatives in the recent past include the just concluded Nigerian Navy Retreat, maritime stakeholders and Regional Maritime Awareness Capability Conferences, with clearly defined communiqué and implementation guidelines. I must also acknowledge the positive contribution of the local community and other sister agencies to ensuring safety in our maritime environment.
4. Distinguished invited guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, you will agree with me that in the recent past, a huge capability gap has emerged among the Stakeholders in the efficient discharge of their constitutional mandates. I therefore believe that this Conference would provide a veritable platform to proffer workable solutions in fine-tuning Nigerian Navy efforts at securing our maritime environment. It is hoped that this forum will facilitate the needed discourse towards identifying viable concepts and constructive collaborative action plans that will support this strategic level initiative.
5. It is against this backdrop, that the theme of this Conference: “Enhancing Nigeria’s Maritime Security for Improved National Prosperity”, was conceptualized. The objective of the Conference therefore is to elicit proper understanding and develop strategies that will enhance our collective effort to meet present and emerging maritime challenges in our strategic environment. As I always say, “no single Ministry, Department or Agency can do it alone”. I would like to therefore urge us to be pragmatic in our deliberations that would lead us to proffering practical solutions that are implementable in the immediate, short, medium and long terms.
6. At this point, may I once again sincerely appreciate our esteemed Chief Host, His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje for extending the sincere hospitality of the State to this distinguished audience. Let me also acknowledge and thank all the distinguished personalities, organizations and friends of the Nigerian Navy that have contributed in one way or the other to make this Conference a reality. To our distinguished invited guests, it is my hope that you will make out time to savor the wonderful delight of this great and ancient city of Kano.
7. Finally, I wish Your Excellencies, distinguished guests and participants successful deliberations. Once more, I welcome you all to the 2021 Chief of the Naval Staff Annual Conference. Thank you all and God Bless.