It is no longer business as usual in the Nigerian Navy as swimming is now a condition for promotion.

According to the Commandant of the Nigerian Navy Training School Quara, Rivers State, Commodore Francis Isaac, naval personnel who wish not to have their promotion delayed should as a matter of priority acquire a proficiency certificate in swimming.

Commodore Isaac stated this recently while fielding questions from journalists during the passing out parade of graduands of the Nigerian Navy Training School, Quara Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He was responding to a question on what the navy is doing concerning its men who reportedly drowned in the Niger Delta region.

He explained that the naval authorities are taking the issue of swimming very seriously, saying that the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ekwe Ibas, has recently declared proficiency in swimming an important aspect of promotion in the force.

The media was awash recently with reports of how personnel of the Nigerian Navy drowned while on military operation in the creeks of the Niger Delta, which the militant group the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) attributed to their lack of swimming skills.

According to Commodore Isaac, “The onus of rebuilding and sustaining a highly skilled and motivated manpower capable of effectively upholding the constitutional and emerging roles of the Nigerian Navy lies on this decision. We conceptualised and conducted three new courses that were not in the regular courses run in Quara. These include the Basic Marine Operation Course for the Nigeria Police Force, the Sole Point Control and Management Course and the recently concluded Command Course.

“The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral IEE Ibas, recently promulgated an Order that all personnel must be able to swim and acquire a proficiency certificate confirming that they can swim and there are criteria.

“It is not just going to the swimming pool to swim. But there are criteria you must meet to enable you acquire that certificate of proficiency. As a matter of fact, swimming has become criteria for promotion in the Nigerian Navy.”

•Photo shows Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ekwe Ibas.

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