Writing by Isma’il Adamu;Editing by Abubakar Hamza.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, has reaffirmed the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to strengthening civil-military cooperation as part of ongoing efforts to secure the country against insurgency and economic sabotage through its sea borders.
He stated this in Katsina at the inauguration of special intervention projects executed by the Nigerian Navy in honour of the Director of Project Monitoring and Evaluation at the Naval Headquarters, Rear Admiral Mohammed Yakubu Dahiru, as he prepares for his retirement later in the year.
Speaking at the ceremony held at Kerau Quarters in Katsina, the Naval Chief said the projects symbolize the Nigerian Navy’s resolve to contribute to the development of local communities with a view to strengthening civil-military cooperation.
Represented by the Director Ship Space at the Naval Headquarters, Rear Admiral Aminu Abdullahi, the Naval Chief stressed the role of non-kinetic measures in complementing the military approach in the fight against insurgency, banditry and other criminal activities.
“Security cannot be achieved by the military alone. We must continue to strengthen civil-military relations so that citizens can trust us, cooperate with us, and together we can secure Nigeria,” he said.
Vice Admiral Abbas explained that beyond operations at sea, the Navy employs a wide range of strategies to safeguard Nigeria’s marine borders and prevent security threats before they occur through intelligence sharing, community engagement, and strategic partnerships.
The projects inaugurated were an 80,000-litre capacity solar-powered industrial borehole, solar-powered street lights and a renovated community school.
In his remarks, the Director Project Monitoring and Evaluation at the Naval headquarters, Rear Admiral Muhammad Dahiru, said the interventions were deliberately chosen to address gaps in water supply, education and local surveillance at Kerau community.
“These Quick Impact Projects are part of the Navy’s civil-military cooperation mandate. We believe that by investing in the wellbeing of host communities, we build trust and create a safer environment for in our communities”, he said.
Meanwhile, the Katsina State Governor, Dr. Dikko Radda, expressed appreciation to the Nigerian Navy and Rear Admiral Muhammad Dahiru, who is an indigene of Kerau community, for the interventions.
Represented by the Chief of Staff, Government House Katsina, Alhaji AbdulQadir Nasir, the governor said the projects will go a long way in promoting civil-military cooperation and addressing some challenges faced by the community.
He noted that the state government has also embarked on an urban and semi-urban water supply scheme and the provision of street lights in major towns across the state under the administration’s Urban Renewal Project.
Alhaji AbdulQadir Nasir appealed to residents to bear with the inconveniences caused by the temporary disruption of water supply networks which was due to ongoing road construction works in several parts of the metropolis.
“Government is working to ensure that as we construct better roads, we also restore and improve water infrastructure. The short-term discomfort will lead to long-term benefits for our people,” he said.
Community members expressed appreciation to the Navy, describing the borehole and renovated school as timely interventions that will ease water scarcity and lack of a standard primary school in Kerau Quarters.
