On behalf of the Speaker House of representatives Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and the honourable members of the House of Representatives Committee on the Nigerian Navy, I wish to welcome the Chief of Naval Staff and his entourage to this Committee session for the 2022 proposed Budget defence. This is coming at the heels where the current budget process for 2022 is most crucial towards addressing the difficult times that the wind of heightened security expectations by Nigerians is blowing rapidly across the country. This moment no doubt provides us with the opportunity for stocktaking and examining the future financial projections for the Navy to reverse the sad tales of insecurity within itsmandate to Nigerians. This is also a chance for us to collectively ascertain what we all need to do in order to strengthen theNigerian Navy to carry out its functions without incumbrances.
This honourable Committee in the exercise of its oversight powers as contained in sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria(as amended) had between October 19th to 29 undertook an oversight visits to the Headquarters, Bases and Formations of the three(3) Naval Commands of the Nigerian Navy in order to acquaint itself with the achievements, challenges and future projections of the Nigerian Navy within the period under review. The Committee visited amongst these Bases and Formations the Nigerian Navy Ship JettiesConstruction Site for the NN Hotel and Suite Calabar, Naval War College Nigeria Permanent Site, Akim Barracks Calabar, Navy Barracks and Nigerian Navy Primary School Ikot-Ansa institutional House for the Commandant NWCN, Nigerian Navy Reference Hospitals Lagos and Calabar, Navy barracks Atimbo, NNS PATHFINDER, NNC/NNBTS Onne, NN Shipyard Ltd, NN Dockyard limited Lagos, NN Barrack Effurun, Naval Flying Unit Warri, Naval Hospital Effurun Warri, NNS Delta, Helicopter support group Lagos, NNEC/NN Garment factory, HQ LOG Command, NN barrack Oghara, the Sports Arena Ojo in Lagos, HQ Central Naval command Yenagoa, NN training Schools and Colleges, HQ the 3Commands with various Bases, Formations, Welfare sections and Units under these commands. There were briefs and interactive sessions with the NN and key maritime players across the Western Command in particular and the Eastern and Central commands respectively. The focus was on obtaining performances levels and indicators for future projections of the activities of the Nigerian Navy within the year under review.
Owing to what were seen on ground and within the not so sufficient appropriations made in the exiting year 2021, this honourable Committee did observe that there were generally commendable performances of the Navy in the last one year. The Chief of Naval staff Vis the Navy Headquarters interventionist projects and projects approved in the last Budget were fair indicators of good performance by the NN.
However, the Committee observed with pessimistic views, the spilt over projects(against agreed timelines) including some that spanned beyond 3years period without any signs completion, hand over to the NN or concrete Work-In-Progress. It questioned the veracity of overloaded projects on a single contractor whose ineptitude in executing projects were highly unfortunate and a bane of quality delivery to the Nigerian Navy and by extension the Nigerian people.
Henceforth, the House of Representatives and the National Assembly will not hesitate to call to order any MDA and in this case the Nigerian Navy where it fails to checkmate any airing contractor whose stock in trade is to waste tax payers monies by taking for granted the delivery of public goods and services within specified timeframe and quality of job(s).
In honesty, the Committee observed that the air of relief in terms of the administrative prowess and strategic vision as well as the open door policy brought to bare in the Nigerian Navy by the chief of Naval StaffRear Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo has engendered effectiveness of Officers and Ratings in the discharge of their duties. There is now a cross ventilation of ideas and motivation provided by the Naval chief to drive Navy to enviable heights in terms of performance. Navy’s presence at sea has increased security in the water ways; professionalism is now brought to play; while an Eagle eye is reflecting on the way way that resources are been utilised to drive the Navy “Onward Together” with other sister security agencies in Nigeria and across the neighboring countries. This must be commended.
Therefore, this session of Budget defence must be seen as a means to an end; it should be seen asan opportunity for the Navy to lay before the Committee it’s succinct major performances in the year under review and to lay it’s array of planned projections for 2022 before the National Assembly. Where necessary, and in line with what the Committee sawon ground it will possibly recommend for increased budgetary allocations to the Nigerian Navy. This is against the backdrop of the noted problems of the Navy which are enormous and there is need for open and legal recommendations for doors and more windows towards granting more legal powers to the Navy to increase itsrevenue generation capacity. This Committee shall not hesitate to call on members of the National Assembly to support and reiterate through the eyes of the Constitution amendment, the Review of the Arm Forces Act and other legislative means an improvement in the performance of the Nigerian Navy.
Distinguished honourable members and the Chief of Nigeria Naval Staff Rear Admiral Gambo, I employ allof us to engage eachother in an open conversation in order to come out with a result that will surely propel the NN to perform its constitutional functions with much ease; effectiveness; and efficiency.
Once again you are all welcome.
