The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, has reiterated the need for professionalism, integrity, and teamwork among personnel.

Ogalla also called for the redoubling of efforts by all officers and ratings to facilitate the delivery of the mandate of the Nigerian Navy (NN).

He made the call during the socio-cultural day organized by the Naval Unit in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, noting that the service’s performance last year was commendable and contributed significantly to the reduction of criminality especially within the maritime domain.

Ogalla urged the personnel to do more this year, challenging all officers, ratings, and civilian staff of the NN to redouble our efforts to achieve the Navy’s constitutional mandate, which is in line with Mr President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He said the President urged them to draw strength and resilience from Nigeria’s diverse culture and heritage, elements of which are on display today, and also reiterate that they must be guided by the core values of the Nigerian Navy, which are integrity professionalism, and teamwork.

Commending the Commander of the unit, Commodore Oluseyi Oladipo, for organising the event, the CNS appreciated sister services, other security agencies, and all the cultural troupes that participated.

Speaking on the theme “strengthening inter-agency collaboration for enhanced national security through sociocultural harmony,” Ogalla noted that the event was designed for troops to celebrate their operational successes in a cultural setting.

“Today’s event is an opportunity for the Nigerian Navy community in the Abuja Area to celebrate the outgone operational year in an atmosphere that reflects the rich cultural diversity of Nigeria.

In his goodwill message, the Minister for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, said the celebration of the past operational year was essential to reappraising successes and recalibrating for improved performance in the current year, 2025.

Wike, who was represented by the Deputy Director of Internal Security Affairs, Sunday Olubiyi, said the past year witnessed accelerated infrastructural development in the FCT, including construction and rehabilitation of roads, schools, and health centres; increased revenue generation and improved security, amongst others.

He said cultural harmony must be promoted in the FCT to foster national unity and enhance national security.

“This would better position the nation’s security agencies to work together to eradicate the menace of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, farmer-herder clashes, and armed robbery amongst others,” he said.

Assuring his commitment to delivering sustained infrastructural development across the urban, suburban, and rural areas of the FCT, in line with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Wike recognized the importance of security to achieve development.

“Therefore, I want to appreciate the contributions of the Nigerian Navy, alongside other security agencies, in ensuring security in the FCT. This has helped to reinforce our collective effort towards building a secured, prosperous, unified, and progressive FCT,” he said.

In his welcome remarks, Commodore Oladipo noted that the socio-cultural might evolve from an age-long military regimental event called West African Social Activity (WASA) aimed at celebrating officers, soldiers, and their families at the end of a rigorous operational year.

He said the Naval Unit in Abuja conducted joint clearance operations around the FCT with other security agencies; increased operational, administrative, and logistics support to Naval Headquarters; furnished and allocated new residential accommodation to personnel as well as developed some Base infrastructure.

“These modest achievements align with the Vision of the Chief of the Naval Staff which is “a highly motivated professional naval force capable of shaping the security outcomes within Nigeria’s maritime domain and the littorals including land-based engagements in fulfillment of Nigeria’s national interest”.