Central Naval Command Promises To Help Ensure Free And Fair Elections

Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Saidu Garba

The Central Naval Command has promised to help ensure that the general elections are peaceful and devoid of violence and ballot snatching.

Rear Admiral Saidu Garba, the Flag Officer Commanding, said this on Thursday during a visit to Governor Seriake Dickson at the Government House in Yenagoa.

He assured the governor that the Navy would play its part in ensuring law and order during the polls and sanction any erring personal accordingly.

“The Nigerian Navy has a mandate to ensure that there is peace in the country. At this particular time when we are going to have elections, we have been mandated to ensure that the elections go very free and fair,” Rear Admiral Garba said.

He added working with other security agencies, “the Nigerian Navy will ensure that the safe passage of election materials, sensitive materials, as well as INEC officials is guaranteed”.

Specifically, the Navy will provide boat escorts for the INEC staff and electoral materials, provide securities in parts of the creeks where elections are being conducted and escort the officials on the return journey.

Governor Dickson thanked the Navy for playing their role effectively in previous elections in the state.

“From my experience, I have been governor here for seven years, the Navy and its officers have always acquitted themselves creditably; and I have been through very tough elections where all kinds of people do all kinds of things,” the Governor said.

“I must say that our government is very impressed with the level of professionalism and honour displayed by Naval officers, who at different times have had to play different roles.”

The Central Naval Command (CNC) is one of the operations commands of the Nigerian Navy and its headquarters is in Yenagoa.