CNS Gambo and Modern Maritime Security -By Abu Ahmad and Ahmadu Dansardauna

“It is more difficult to stay on top than to get there”. –Mie Hamm

A few months ago precisely on January 26th 2021 , President Muhammadu Buhari appointed new service chiefs , Rear Admiral AZ Gambo as Chief of Naval Staff i was found competent and worthy to drive the next level of the PMB administration in Nigerian Navy .

Rear Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo appointment came at a period when the country was facing serious security challenges and he has as expected from Nigerians hit the ground running by tackling the worsening insecurity across Nigeria’s territorial waters which have making life difficult for Nigerians.

Without doubt, he hit the ground running by unveiling his vision and mission envisioned the type of the Navy to head during his maiden meeting with principal staff officers, flag officers commanding and commanders of autonomous units of the Nigerian Navy directed all operations commanders to sustain aggressive clearance operations to make suspected militants, pirate camps Non-Conducive for any nefarious activities to thrive and rejected the resurging incidents of piracy and sea robbery within Nigerian waters.

Henceforth his stewardship will also focus on human capacity development through Result-Oriented training for enhanced professionalism and as well as strengthening logistics support and maintenance capabilities to sustain equipment serviceability and platform availability.

While his statements set to guide his stewardship of the Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral Awwal Zubaru reiterate his readiness to promote and sustain Nigerian Navy core values of Integrity, Professionalism and Teamwork and would ensure personnel welfare is accorded high priority towards enhanced Patriotism, Integrity, Productivity, Innovation, Commitment And Dedication.

He also pledging guaranteeing Nigerians, personnel and officers of the Nigerian Navy and even those around riverine and coastal areas as CNS will ensure nation waters remains safe from all forms of maritime criminalities and has zero-tolerance for indiscipline, criminal activities and will formulate a policies to sanction identified Nigerian Navy personnel that collude with economic saboteurs and other criminals.

Another important areas the new Naval Chief need to pay attention is taming corruption and identifying the bad eggs of the naval service. The immediate past Chief of Naval Staff while handing over lament that many officers of Nigerian navy still connive with illegal bunkers, sea robbers ,oil thieves and other maritime criminals to undermine existence of the country. He said the negligence of the officers at their duty post is aggravating challenges in maritime sector.

The story of the 21st indigenous Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) and 9th since returns of democracy in the country Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo is that of Triumph of the human fortune. His life is a proof that with strong will to succeed in life and divine nod to one’s actions, one can turn all obstacles to blessings. The effort of this gentleman makes him to attain greatness by building fruitful Navy career from the bottom up the top echelon of top the Nigerians Navy.

After just seven months in office, CNS Gambo has made significant progress in fulfilling vision and mission and has brought sweeping changes in returning Navy to its core mandate of providing maritime security in tandem with global best practice. He has commissioned maritime patrol assets; gun boats, house boat, high – tech intersectors, surveillance drones, etc. donated to the Nigerian navy by Aiteo Global Group. Also under AZ Gambo Nigerian Navy and Ahmadu Bello U,Zaria University has held a meeting on research into use of local materials for protection of ship decks against corrosion.The Nigerian Navy has secured 100 hectares of land for the establishment of a Naval Base in the State.

The Nigerian Navy (NN) has launched a new Landing Ship Tank (LST) at Damen Shipyard, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. The construction of the ship began about 2 years ago and when commissioned, will replace the first set of LSTs of the NN, NNS AMBE and NNS OFIOM which have been decommissioned.

The introduction of the LST to the NN inventory will bolster NN sealift capability. Specifically, it would enhance the transportation of troops, military hardware, and vehicles in the conduct of maritime security operations launched from sea as well as supply of relief material during period of national emergency.

According to the CNS in a recent top management retreat ,said the retreat is intended to remind the participants on the critical role played by campaign planning in developing the ability of commanders to understand the task at hand, plan effectively, employ systemic framework to make smarter operational decisions and minimize operations risks at all levels of command in the Service. Acknowledging the need to emplace a robust feedback mechanism, especially one that promotes accountability, Admiral Gambo recalled several attempt at stimulating an effective management regime through the emplacement of a robust feedback mechanism that requires commanders at all levels to sign a performance bond.

The CNS reminded the participants that the Retreat was being held at a critical period when the country faced COVID-19 Pandemic challenges with tightened budget restrictions and multifaceted security challenges across the nation. This situation, he emphasized, called for prudent resource management, innovation, accountability and deep reflection that would engender patriotic rededication to Service. He informed that financial management was a key topic for discussion during the retreat and expects that the Retreat would bring all commanders up to speed in the need for prudent utilization of resources as the NN under his watch will have zero tolerance for wastages.

The new CNS quick start in office cleaning the Augean stable clearly shows great sense responsibility, exceptional courage, sincerity of purpose and readiness to take the organization to higher unprecedented level. There is no doubt that his legacies shall remain eternal source of inspiration for many generations to come as the Chief of Naval Staff Annual Conference 2021 currently taking place in Kano reach its climax .

Dukawa and Dansardauna wrote in from Kano and can be reach on abbahydukawa@gmail.com