The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command Rear Adm. Micheal Oamen on Wednesday embarked on a familiarisation tour to units under the Western Naval Command Navy Town, Ojo in an effort to improve facilities and better the livelihood of personnel.
Oamen’s tour in Ojo included visiting the Naval Airbase, Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital, and projects supervised by Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) WEY around the Navy Town.
ReelzzNewzz24 reports that the FOC had earlier visited ships at Naval Base Apapa, Nigerian Navy Medical Center Mobil Road and NNS BEECROFT.
Oamen said that facilities visited so far were in good condition and were well maintained but he however, said that there was still room for improvement to ensure that they remained world-class standard.
He was particularly interested in the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital because of the role the hospital played in catering to the health of naval personnel and the general public around Navy Town.
The FOC said that the welfare of the men of the Nigerian Navy was one of the pillars of the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla’s strategic vision for the navy.
“The Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital, Ojo is our flagship medical facility and I’m here to see what they are doing in terms of structural development and see how we can ensure more development in the facility.
“The idea is to support them and make sure they are able to deliver good medical services to the men and residents of Navy Town.
“We are particular about what happens in the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital because we need a very healthy and agile workforce to be able to discharge our duty as the navy,” he said.
Oamen, while commending the facilities at the hospital said that their challenges were not particular to the navy in terms of the cost of running the hospital which had now increased.
He said that this necessitated the navy looking for alternative sources of financing and running the establishment well.
“For example, we intend to improve power generation by looking at alternative sources such as solar, inverter so as to ensure all round electricity supply, so all options regarding upgrading are in the table.
“It is important that we have a healthy workforce because that is where it starts from, so that we, as a force, can discharge our responsibility very well.
“The navy is trying it’s best under the present situation, we are looking forward inwards everyday to see how we can make the best of the available resources that we have,” he said.
The FOC said that every project was under the guidance of the CNS who had directed that the welfare of every naval personnel was paramount and that the environment, in which they lived, must be conducive to enable them discharge their duties optimally.
“The commands have been charged to do everything possible to maintain the moral of the men.
“So, we are going to be doing a lot within the barracks to ensure that it is conducive and it is livable for all personnel’s of the Nigerian Navy,” Oamen said.