The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas (Admiralty Medal), has declared that the recently established Nigerian Navy Special Operations Command (NNSOC) will play a pivotal role in addressing internal security challenges in the Middle Belt region.
He made the remark on Tuesday during a working visit to Makurdi, Benue State the first stop in his operational tour of naval bases, units, ships, and establishments across the country.
Vice Admiral Abbas, who was received by the Flag Officer Commanding NNSOC, Rear Admiral Olakunle Soyemi, the Commander of the Joint Task Force Operation Whirl Stroke, Major General M.K. Gara, and Benue State Deputy Governor, Barr. Sam Ode, inspected several naval formations and ongoing projects in the state.
The tour covered the headquarters of NNSOC at the North Bank of River Benue, Nigerian Navy Barracks Kanshio, the Navy Medical Centre, and the temporary site of the Naval Provost and Regulating School in Makurdi.
At the NNSOC headquarters, the Naval Chief inspected multiple construction projects, including the Administrative Block, 24 x 1 and 16 x 1 accommodation blocks, a 16 x 2 accommodation facility, and a 40-man arrival hall. He directed that work be expedited to ensure early completion.
Explaining the significance of the visit, Vice Admiral Abbas said Makurdi was chosen for his first operations tour because of the strategic role of NNSOC in national security coordination.
“The Special Operations Command will be pivotal to improving the security situation in the Middle Belt, working closely with sister services and other security agencies,” he said.
He was accompanied by the Chief of Logistics, Rear Admiral S.H. Abdullahi, and the Chief of Operations, Rear Admiral M.B. Katagum.
Other dignitaries from the Benue State Government included the Director-General, Homeland Security, Air Commodore Joseph Gbanuwam (rtd), Dr. Livinus Tsar, and Hon. Isaac Adingi, both Senior Special Assistants to the Governor.
