By DESMOND EJIBAS

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, on Sunday unveiled a cenotaph in honour of 11 Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) naval cadets who died in a boat accident during training in 1990.

Shaibu unveiled the monument during a wreath-laying ceremony at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS), Onne, Rivers.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the deceased cadets belonged to the 41 Regular Course of the NDA, of which Shaibu is also a member.

The cadets lost their lives on July 23, 1990, during a boat handling exercise at the then Nigerian Naval College, Onne.

Shaibu said the ceremony was organised to honour the memory and sacrifice of the young trainees whose military careers were cut short by the tragedy.

“We gather not merely to commission a monument but to consecrate a sacred place of remembrance for our beloved course mates,” he said.

He described the cenotaph as an enduring tribute to 11 patriots whose dreams of serving the nation ended during a training exercise.

He recalled that the cadets were undergoing routine training when their boat collided with a stationary jetty and capsized.

“On that fateful day, 11 promising officers in the making lost their lives. It remains one of the saddest chapters in the history of military training in Nigeria,” he said.

The COAS noted that although the cadets did not die on the battlefield, they made the ultimate sacrifice while preparing to defend Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“Their sacrifice is no less profound, and their memory deserves to be preserved and honoured for generations to come,” he said.

Shaibu stated that the monument symbolised courage, selfless service, comradeship and unwavering commitment to duty.

According to him, the cenotaph will serve as a permanent reminder of the sacrifices made by military personnel in the service of the nation.

The army chief also expressed sympathy to the families of the deceased cadets, assuring them that the nation would never forget their sacrifice.

Also speaking, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, said the monument was long overdue and commended the NNBTS and Naval Training Command for bringing the project to fruition.

Represented by the Chief of Administration at Naval Headquarters, Rear Adm. Jonathan Mamman, Abbas said the cenotaph reaffirmed that the sacrifice of the cadets had not been forgotten by the Nigerian Navy.

He expressed sympathy to the families of the deceased, acknowledging that no words could fully ease the pain of their loss.

“Their names and devotion will forever remain part of the proud heritage of the service and an inspiration to future generations of officers, ratings and cadets,” he said.

Abbas observed that military training was inherently demanding and could never be entirely free of risks.

He said the tragedy prompted deep reflection and strengthened the Navy’s resolve to improve its training systems and procedures.

“Training doctrines and standard operating procedures are being continuously reviewed to align with international best practices.

“Greater emphasis is now placed on comprehensive risk assessment, enhanced supervision, improved emergency response capability, and the use of modern training aids and simulation technology,” he said.

The naval chief added that the Navy was investing in the professional development of training instructors and strengthening welfare, medical support and psychological resilience programmes for trainees.

He said the objective was to produce personnel who are physically fit, mentally resilient, professionally competent and ethically grounded. (NAN)

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