The Chairman, Senate Committee on the Navy, Distinguished Senator Olugbenga Daniel, has lauded the Eastern Naval Command for its outstanding contributions to safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime domain and combating criminal activities at sea.
Senator Daniel led members of the Committee on an oversight visit to the Headquarters Eastern Naval Command, Calabar, as part of the Senate’s on-the-spot assessment of naval bases, ships, and establishments in the area.
The delegation was warmly received by the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Kennedy Chukwuemeka Ezete, along with senior officers of the Command. During a briefing, the FOC highlighted the Command’s key operations, successes in anti-piracy missions, and rescue of kidnapped victims.
In his remarks, Senator Daniel commended the Navy’s professionalism and called for enhanced operational efficiency through the deployment of drones, helicopters, and CCTV systems to strengthen surveillance and fuel management.
He, however, identified challenges such as accommodation shortages, collapsed jetties, and fuel supply constraints, urging the Command to submit a prioritized list of needs for legislative intervention.
Also speaking, Senator Kelvin Chukwu praised the Command’s commitment and emphasized stronger inter-agency cooperation to sustain maritime security gains.
Responding, Rear Admiral Ezete expressed appreciation for the Senate’s support, noting that CCTV systems have already been installed onboard ships and that the Command continues to prioritize drone and helicopter acquisitions to boost operations.
The visit ended with an exchange of souvenirs and a group photograph to commemorate the Committee’s engagement with the Eastern Naval Command.
