The Central Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy has commenced a retraining exercise on marksmanship and weapons handling for its personnel to reduce collateral damage during civil engagement duties.
The exercise, codenamed Intra-Command Maritime Tactical Live Firing Exercise, Ex Miye Ebimo, was held on Thursday at the Forward Operating Base, FOB FORMOSO, Brass, in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The routine exercise is aimed at sharpening weapon handling skills, improving fire discipline and preparing troops for maritime and national security operations.
Speaking at the event, the Commanding Officer, FOB FORMOSO, Capt. Sunday Haruna, said the exercise is a clear demonstration of the Command’s commitment to maintaining high operational readiness, tactical proficiency and combat effectiveness.
He said the exercise provides participating units with a valuable opportunity to practise and validate maritime tactical procedures under realistic conditions, while enhancing coordination, communication and interoperability among personnel.
Haruna explained that FOB FORMOSO was selected for the exercise because of its strategic importance in the maritime environment, noting that the Base has provided the necessary support and cooperation for the successful conduct of the exercise.
He warned that live firing demands the highest level of discipline and strict compliance with safety procedures.
“The fact that Ex Miye Ebimo involves live firing demands the highest degree of discipline, vigilance and strict compliance with established safety procedures. I therefore urge all personnel to regard every safety instruction, range procedure, communication protocol and command as mandatory. There must be no shortcuts, assumptions or complacency at any stage. Every individual has a responsibility to identify and report unsafe conditions,” he said.
In his remarks, the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, who was represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command, Yenagoa, Rear Adm. Suleiman Ibrahim, commended the Command for its planning, coordination and professional execution of the exercise.
Abbas said the successful completion of the exercise demonstrates the Nigerian Navy’s continued commitment to maintaining a well-trained, disciplined and operationally ready fighting force.
He noted that exercises of this nature give personnel the opportunity to translate theoretical knowledge and tactical procedures into practical skills under realistic operational conditions.
“I am particularly pleased with the level of professionalism, discipline and commitment displayed by all personnel. The conduct of live firing requires a high degree of coordination, concentration and strict compliance with established procedures. Your performance has shown that the Nigerian Navy remains focused on developing the capabilities required to discharge its constitutional responsibilities,” he said.
He added that the value of any live-firing exercise goes beyond the discharge of weapons, stressing that the ultimate objective is to develop combat effectiveness, tactical confidence, teamwork and operational readiness.
Abbas reminded personnel that every live-firing activity carries inherent risks and urged commanders to ensure proper risk assessments are conducted and safety measures are implemented.
He also said the exercise provided an opportunity to assess the effectiveness of existing procedures, equipment and weapon arrangements.
He directed the Command to conduct a comprehensive post-exercise review to identify strengths, shortcomings and lessons observed, and to apply remedial measures for greater efficiency in future exercises and operations.
He commended the Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command, and his planning team for the successful exercise and urged personnel to sustain the spirit of teamwork, noting that effective maritime operations depend on seamless joint operations among units.
