Mr. Joel Adeoye, Director of Navy Affairs at the Ministry of Defence, raised the alarm during a visit to the Eastern Naval Command in Calabar. He emphasized the need to improve living conditions to retain experienced sailors.
Adeoye, accompanied by the Deputy Director of Navy Logistics, Mr. Kola Aragbaye, identified personnel welfare as a pressing concern. He called for improved accommodation, transportation, and healthcare services for naval personnel and their families.
Beyond welfare, Adeoye highlighted inadequate operational equipment and significant budgetary constraints as major obstacles to the Navy's effectiveness in securing the nation's maritime domain.
Despite these challenges, Adeoye commended the Chief of the Naval Staff for ongoing infrastructure development projects. He assured the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral K.C. Ezete, that the Ministry of Defence was committed to providing necessary support in critical areas of need.
Rear Admiral Ezete thanked Adeoye for his candid observations and welcomed the ministry's commitment. He emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing the Navy's pressing challenges.
The visit concluded with a traditional exchange of souvenirs and a group photograph, symbolizing the continued partnership between the Ministry of Defence and the Eastern Naval Command.