The Nigerian Navy has emphasised its commitment to improving the welfare of its personnel to enhance their professional output.
The Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Navy Holding Limited, Rear Admiral Siliranda Lassa, made the assertion on Thursday during the inauguration of a nine-by-one building block for junior ratings at the Navy Logistics Command, Oghara, Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State.
Lassa, who was the immediate past Flag Officer Commanding, the Logistics Command, maintained that the welfare of the naval personnel was a top priority to the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo.
He said, “All we are seeing today bears testimony to the dexterity of the Command’s leadership in ensuring that personnel welfare is given considerable levels of priority.
“The personnel welfare is exemplified today by the Command’s leadership in constructing a befitting edifice for the Junior Ratings who obviously constitute a larger percentage of personnel within the command.
“It is a commendable effort that what we started before has been sustained. I am also proud of the CNS to find it worthy to bring another CSO to continue with the drive.”
Lassa expressed gratitude to the CNS for providing the resources to achieve the feat noting that the tempo of development had increased in the command.
He also thanked the leadership of the command for branding the building in his name, noting that it was rare for a project to be named after someone while still alive.
The naval boss lauded the efforts of the current FOC in the Command, Rear Admiral Olumuyiwa Olotu, particularly at achieving the milestone within a short period, especially at a time when other needs of the command are competing with scarce resources.
Lassa assured that the leadership of the Nigerian Navy would continue to look toward the Logistics Command as resources become available.
He, however, urged the personnel, particularly the Junior Ratings who were the direct beneficiaries of the building, to utilise the facilities appropriately and with utmost care.
Speaking earlier, Rear Admiral Olotu, the current FOC of the Logistics Command thanked his predecessor (Lassa) and the CNS for their unwavering support of the command noting that the command had recorded remarkable progress in infrastructure development specifically in the aspect of accommodation and roads.
“In recent times, the Barrack has assumed tremendous shape. Most of the infrastructure development in this Barrack was initiated and completed by Rear Admiral S O Lassa as FOC between 2020 and 2022.
“Having served under him, I was privileged to share in his vision of putting the command in its rightful place in the scheme of things in the Nigerian Navy,” Rear Admiral Olotu stated.
While thanking the CNS again, Olotu affirmed that robust attention was being given to the welfare needs of the personnel by ensuring that the dilapidated buildings in the command were renovated and completed promptly.
