By Nitoni Osain, Yenagoa
In a significant move to bolster security in the Niger Delta region, the newly appointed Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Central Naval Command (CNC), Rear Admiral Suleiman ahim, has embarked on a series of high-level courtesy visits to key security formations in Yenagoa.
The visits to the Headquarters of Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) and the Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) of Police for Zone 16, conducted on Tuesday, underscore the Admiral’s strategic commitment to fostering inter-agency collaboration as the cornerstone of his command.
Rear Admiral Ibrahim, who assumed command on November 5, 2025, used the opportunity to assure both agencies of his unwavering dedication to partnership. “The complex security challenges in our Area of Responsibility, particularly oil theft and pipeline vandalism, cannot be tackled by a single entity,” he stated during his remarks. “I am here to assure you of my readiness to always collaborate. The need for synergy is not just important; it is imperative for our national security and economic stability.”
The Commander of Operation Delta Safe, a joint task force dedicated to securing the Niger Delta’s oil infrastructure, warmly received the FOC. He expressed strong optimism about the future, directly linking their enhanced cooperation to national economic gains. “With the deepened synergy that will be experienced between our two institutions, the nation is poised to witness a tremendous increase in its crude oil daily production,” the OPDS Commander affirmed. “This partnership is a direct counter-offensive against the criminals sabotaging our economy.”
Echoing the sentiment, AIG Johnson Adenola of Zone 16 Police Command emphasized the critical need for police-military collaboration, especially in securing the labyrinthine waterways. “Security is everybody’s business,” AIG Adenola maintained. “The police cannot do it alone. Partnering with the Navy, which has the primary capacity for maritime operations, is the most effective way to curb insecurity, from piracy to kidnappings, in our coastal communities.”
Following the high-level meetings, Rear Admiral Ibrahim inspected the progress of several ongoing Nigerian Navy projects in Yenagoa and adjoining communities, signaling his focus on both operational readiness and infrastructural development.
