The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, on Monday flagged of the CNS Annual Sea Exercise (CASI) tagged “EX ERU OBODO” on board Nigerian Navy Ship KADA in Apapa, Lagos. The name “ERU OBODO” is a Yoruba term for “Guardian (or fear) of Our National Waters” indicating that criminals must be scared to traverse Nigerian waters. The Sea Exercise which involves the deployment of 16 Nigerian Navy (NN) Ships, 3 Helicopters and the full spectrum of NN Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) facilities in addition to the requisite number of personnel to patrol the sea area outside Lagos waters and the wider Gulf of Guinea is designed to first assess the navy’s operational readiness and showcase her capability to secure the maritime space of the West African sub-region.
The CNS further explained that the Exercise would test NN ability to dominate the maritime space, ensure freedom of action for legitimate commerce while deterring any form of illegality.
Earlier, the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abdullahi Abubakar Mustapha who is also the Officer in Tactical Command (OTC) stated that several manoeuvres would be conducted during the exercise. These include Anti-Piracy Operation, Anti- Illegal Oil Bunkering Operation, Search and Rescue Operation (SAR) and Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) Operations.
The CNS concluded by appreciating the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR for his unwavering support to the Armed Forces in general and the Navy in particular.
He also reiterated that NN was ready and capable to undertake any mission as directed by the President.
