Finally, Ogella takes over from Gambo as new CNS

Nigeria’s 24th Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla has finally assumed office after days of controversy surrounding his take over from outgone Navy hief, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo.

Vice Admiral Gambo handed over all the symbols of the Navy to Ogalla at a handing and taking ceremony on Friday at the Naval Headquarters, Abuja after two years of commanding the Nigerian Navy.

While taking over, the new Naval Boss promised to intensify efforts to curb crude oil theft and put an end to illegal refining.

“The task ahead of us is challenging. We continually face significant threats such as crude oil theft, the prevalence of illegal refineries, Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, piracy, sea robbery, piracy, various forms of trafficking, and other maritime crimes.

“These are not just threats to our maritime security, but also our economic stability and national development. But let me be clear: We are committed to tackling these security challenges head-on. We will intensify our efforts to curb crude oil theft and put an end to illegal refining. We will enhance our capabilities to combat piracy and sea robbery and ensure the general safety of our maritime domain.”

While thanking the former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Gambo, and other former service chiefs for their contributions to curbing insecurity, Ogalla said, “Indeed, I firmly believe that navigating the challenges of maritime security is a journey, not a destination.

“It will therefore require our unwavering commitment, steadfast resolve, and collective effort.

“With an ever-evolving mindset, continuous dedication to professionalism, fervent drive towards innovation, and an undying spirit of teamwork, I am confident that we can transform our maritime domain into a safer, more secure, and prosperous space for socio-economic activities to thrive in fulfilment of our constitutional mandate,” he said.

In his farewell address, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo who is confident of his successor said, “I am leaving you in the hands of a capable Chief of the Naval Staff.”

Gambo took time to highlight some of his achievements as the CNS in the last two years, said, “What is certain is that we proceeded with a single purpose to address the subversive and nefarious activities in our nation’s maritime domain.

“The devastating impacts of piracy, sea robbery, the proliferation of illegal refinery, brazen crude oil theft (COT), destruction of critical oil and gas infrastructure as well as violent crimes such as kidnapping, hijack and attack on security forces, renewed our vigour to evolve more stringent operations concepts and strategies.

To this end, we heightened our commitment to anti-piracy operations, anti-COT operations, choke point operations as well as riverine and swamp operations. To give impetus to this resolve, we embarked on massive fleet renewal, robust logistics management, acquisition of additional platforms, human capital enhancement, holistic infrastructural development, and effective collaboration with local and international partners.”

The new CNS however, solicited the cooperation of all personnel in ensuring the success of the service.

“I am confident that with our collective efforts as exemplified by our motto Onward Together, we can overcome these challenges. we will write a new chapter in the illustrious history of the Nigerian Navy and build a Navy that is second to none, a Navy that our nation can be proud of,” he added.

It would be recalled that controversy had trailed the delay in the handover to the new CNS Ogella days after President Bola Tinubu had announced a change in the Service Chiefs in the country, Monday, June 19.

President Tinubu announced a change of Service Chiefs across all the military, including para-military forces like the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Customs Service, last Monday, June 19.

However, following reports of a deliberate refusal by Vice Admiral Gambo to formally hand over to his successor, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla over payments to contractors, and others, the Nigerian Navy has weighed in to debunk the claims, the Navy stepped in with a rebuttal.

The Navy which described as ‘malicious, totally lies and misleading,’ the wide spread reports of refusal by Gambo to handover to Ogalla as the new CNS, said the situation portrayed in the reports was not true.

In a statement issued by the Director of Information, Commodore Ayo Vaughan on Wednesday in Abuja, it said instead that the ‘handing and taking over ceremony in the Nigerian Navy from inception is procedural.’

The navy statement is titled; NIGERIAN NAVY DEBUNKS ALLEGATION BY SOME ONLINE MEDIA OF THE OUTGOING CHIEF OF THE NAVAL STAFF’S REFUSAL TO HAND OVER.

According to the statement, the hand over procedure takes a format which include ‘the announcement of the change of the ‘Watch on deck’, the outgoing CNS is expected to give detailed brief to the incoming CNS, tour key naval facilities and perform the ceremonial lowering of ensign.’

The navy spokesperson, Vaughan, disclosed that this process has already commenced and will culminate on Friday, June 23 with the formal handover.

“The attention of the Naval Headquarters has been drawn to a malicious publication by some online media such as Peoples Gazette, opr.news, hallmarknews and others alleging the refusal of the outgoing Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Zubair Gambo to hand over to the incoming Chief of the Naval Staff, Rear Admiral E.I. Ogalla.

“The media reports are totally lies, misleading and capable of spreading falsehood to unsuspecting members of the public. It is therefore necessary to put the record straight.

“Suffice to state that handing and taking over ceremony in the Nigerian Navy from inception is procedural. Upon the announcement of the change of the ‘Watch on deck’, the outgoing CNS is expected to give detailed brief to the incoming CNS, tour key naval facilities and perform the ceremonial lowering of ensign.

“Accordingly, the programme of events leading to the formal handing and taking over ceremony has kicked off to culminate at a public ceremony on Friday 23 June 2023 in line with age-long naval

tradition.

“Instructively, it is pertinent to mention that sister Services are also due to handover as they have set aside specific dates for their handing and taking over ceremonies.

“Members of the public are therefore advised to discountenance the malicious publication and erroneous information as a figment of the reporter’s imagination.

“You are please requested to disseminate this information to the general public,” the statement by

Commodore Vaughan read.