By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla, has charged personnel of the Nigerian Navy to remain professional in the discharge of their duties and remain committed to protecting the nation’s democracy.

Ogalla, represented by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Admiralty Integrated Farms Limited, Rear Adm. Julius Nwagu, gave the charge at the 2025 Second Quarter Route March, on Saturday in Abuja.

He said the route march was organised as a show of force to prepare personnel to be mentally and physically fit.

According to him, it is aimed at developing personnel physical and mental alertness to meet the dynamics of contemporary security operations as well as fostering esprit de corps and providing an avenue for relaxation.

“I enjoin you to be more professional in the conduct of your duties and day activities.

“Furthermore, I encourage you not to engage in any act of misdemeanor or take laws into your hands that could bring the service into disrepute in the course of your duty.

“Furthermore, I charge you all to show dedication to duty and unflinching support to our democracy and constituted authority,” he said.

Ogalla pledged his commitment to continue to support the personnel by providing all the required needs to function optimally in the area of their responsibilities.

According to him, it is worthy of mention that the Nigeria Navy is primarily responsible for the protection of the nation’s maritime domain.

He said the Nigerian Navy was also a major contributor to the Gulf of Guinea maritime security arrangement, as well as a major participant in internal security duties all over the country.

This, he said, made it imperative for them to be mentally and physically fit at all times.

“Thus, the exercise and physical training remains the bedrock of naval personnel’s daily mental and physical readiness for sea show and ashore duties.

“It is pertinent to state that the commitment of the Nigeria Navy towards enhancing mental and physical fitness has yielded dividends.

“This has been witnessed with the sterling contributions of the Nigerian Navy schedule to national security, peace and prosperity.

“It is in recognition of this fact and desire of the service to keep the personnel physically fit that the route march amongst other physical fitness exercises are sustained in the navy schedule of events.

“As you are aware, the Nigerian navy has just concluded Operation Obangame Express.

“The exercise was aimed at partnering with regional and global maritime stakeholders on the security of maritime domain awareness of littoral states within the Africa continent,” he added. (NAN)

Edited by Ayodeji Alabi