President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday commissioned a seaward defence boat NNS Oji locally made in Nigeria by men of the Nigerian navy and a helicopter on Thursday in Lagos.

NNS Oji, built by engineers of the Nigerian Navy is the third of its series to be indigenously built at the Naval Dockyard Limited after NNS Adoni and NNS Karaduwa were built in 2016.

Buhari also commissioned six newly acquired ships, including NNS Lana, Kano, Ikenne, Aba, Sokoto and Osun, 111 boats and one helicopter, charging all naval personnel to maintain professionalism and ensure good use of the newly built and acquired vessels including NNS Lana, Kano, Ikenne, Aba, Sokoto and Osun.

Speaking at the event, which also marks the keel-laying ceremony for the construction of Boat-IV and Boat-V, President Buhari said the new inductions to the naval fleet would boost their capability in securing Nigeria’s maritime domain.

“We should note that we are in a critical period where our country is faced with a serious decline in our revenue and the security challenges we are facing,” he said.

‘‘The present realities, therefore, call for prudent resource management, innovativeness, accountability and careful maintenance.

‘‘I wish to reiterate that despite these challenges, our administration is very determined to ensure that the Navy is well supported to achieve its statutory responsibilities.

‘‘Let me assure you that the Government will continue to support the ideals of the Nigerian Navy in the performance of its constitutional duties. God bless the Nigerian Navy, God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Onward Together.”

While commending the efforts of the navy in their fight against maritime crimes in the Gulf of Guinea, Buhari added that he believed the ships would bolster the service in securing Nigeria’s maritime environment.

The Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, said the commissioning of NNS OJI and others was a manifestation of the Federal Government’s commitment to maintaining a well-equipped navy that Nigerians would be proud of.

He stated that NNS Lana, a hydrographic ship received from its maiden voyage from France to Nigeria on 17 May 21, would be involved in the hydrographic survey of the nation’s territorial waters towards ensuring safety of navigation within her waterways while SDB III, Inshore Patrol Crafts (IPC) and Fast Patrol Boats (FPB) which includes NNS ABA, NNS KANO, NNS IKENNE, NNS SOKOTO and NNS OSUN will be deployed for surveillance and patrol duties within the nation’s waters.

He said: “These efforts are geared towards enhancing the performance of our constitutional role regarding hydrographic survey and policing of our waters.

“Invariably, the induction of these platforms into the NN fleet will lead to further decline in criminal activities in our Maritime Domain. I would like to assure you all that these assets will be adequately maintained to sustain our maritime security operations.”

The Nigerian Army on Wednesday held a valedictory dinner in honour of 52 generals, comprising 23 major-generals and 29 brigadier- generals who have retired and will be retiring before the end of the year.

It was reported that the one-star and two-star generals were presented with their records of service certificates by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya.

Yahaya said the event was designed to honour and appreciate the officers for their services to the Nigerian Army and the nation at large.

He said there was need to celebrate and be grateful to God for reaching the peak of their careers, adding that a number of their colleagues who joined the service with them had died.

“It is, therefore, my honour and privilege to most sincerely appreciate you all for your sacrifices and meritorious services to the nation and this gesture will in future be replicated at divisional and brigade levels for our retiring officers of the rank of colonel and below.

“It will also be designed for our soldiers and in the end this culture of appreciating and honouring our personnel on exit from loyal and meritorious service to their fatherland will be entrenched and institutionalised as being witnessed today.

“The culture of loyalty, dedication, hard work, commitment, courage and integrity that we all imbibed in the course of our careers are noble virtues that we should continue to cherish and uphold.

“We should all continue to cultivate, nurture and nourish them and lie on them in and out of service,“ he said.

The COAS said the daunting security challenges facing the nation currently required that all hands should be on deck toward arresting the situation.

He said the high command of the Nigerian Army would continue to consult the retired generals and tap from their wealth of experience.

“On our part, we shall continue to explore avenues with a view to meaningfully engage, appreciate and support our retired colleagues in whatever way possible.

“I would like to assure you of my commitment to improving the welfare of your families as our health facilities and other welfare packages will be available to you in various barracks and cantonments across the country.

“You are also welcome to attend our functions and sessions to extend your mentorship to the younger personnel who have always looked up to you for guidance and direction,” he said.

The Chief of Administration (Army), Maj.-Gen. Usman Muhammed said the valedictory dinner was the first of its kind in the history of the Nigerian Army.

Muhammed said in the past it was only the service chief and a few senior officers who held strategic appointments at the time of their disengagement that had hitherto been treated to such a ceremony.

According to him, most senior officers retired without being treated to any ceremony to mark their official exit from the service.

He said it was against that backdrop that the COAS directed that a more befitting disengagement process be explored for retiring senior officers of the Nigerian Army.

“These distinguished Nigerians, alongside their spouses, are being honoured today for their meritorious service to the nation.

“The senior officers have dedicated a better part of their lives to the defence of the territorial integrity of our dear nation.

“It is, therefore, appropriate to honour them and appreciate their service to the nation,“ he said.

Muhammed also disclosed that the COAS had approved that the sendoff ceremony be held annually in the last quarter.

President Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday said anyone found guilty in the death of Sylvester Oromoni will be made to face the full wrath of the law.

Oromoni was a student of Dowen College, Lekki in Lagos before his death. His parents said he died after being bullied by his senior schoolmates in the school dormitory.

The school, however, claimed Oromoni sustained injuries while playing football.

“The President assures that it [Oromoni’s death] must act as a trigger leading to a permanent solution to this recurring problem,” Buhari’s special assistant on media and publicity Garba Shehu said in a statement.

“This incident will be thoroughly investigated and the appropriate punishment meted out to all those who are culpable.”

Lagos State police commissioner Hakeem Odumosu said on Tuesday that key suspects in the case have been arrested. He, however, did not disclose the names of those arrested.

Before his death, Oromoni had named five students who he claimed attacked him in the dormitory, inflicting on him multiple internal injuries.

The late student’s father earlier said that his child was beaten and fed a liquid chemical which led to his death.

State government has since shut down the school while the police continue investigation into the matter.

Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has inaugurated a nine-member advisory council in Lokoja, the state capital, to enhance the state’s tourism potential.

Bello, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Edward Onoja, said a number of historic sites are in the state to make Kogi one of the country’s most viable tourism hub.

He said these tourist sites would boost the internally generated revenue (IGR) of the state. Some of these sites are Lord Lugard Rest House on Mount Patti (1900-1914 AD), British Flag Hoisting (1900 AD), European Cemetery (1896 AD) and the confluence point of rivers Niger and Benue.

Director-General of the National Council of Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, was appointed Chairman of the council.

Chief Executive Officer of La Campagne Tropicana Resort, Badagry, Wale Akinboboye; Nike Okundaye of Nike Art Gallery; Ronke Bello; Joseph Makoju and Kehinde Quadri Adu, were named members of the council.

Kogi State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Salifu Idachaba, is Alternate Chairman of the council, while Femi Bolaji, will serve as Secretary.