Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas – Chief of Naval Staff
The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Adm. Ibok Ibas, says the annual CNS Swimming Competition supported by the force is to foster good relationship between it and the public.
The navy chief made the assertion when as the 7th edition of the competition got underway in Lagos on Thursday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
Ibas, represented by Rear Adm. Ferguson Bobai, the Flag Officer, Western Naval Command, Lagos, said the yearly event also served as preparation for the Military Games.
“The Nigerian Navy have been supporting this yearly event because we see it as a way of fostering unique bonding between us and the public.
“We will not relent in supporting such a competition as this because we are also preparing for the Military Games coming up in Kaduna by December.
“The competition has been a great opportunity to see the military competing with others,” he said.
The Lagos Sate Government through its Director-General, Lagos State Sports Commission, Adewunmi Ogunsanya,
expressed its appreciation to the Naval Command.
“It has been a great partnership between the Nigerian Navy and the Nigeria Aquatic Federation for seven years and this is quite commendable.
“Lagos State is proud to host this noble event and we will do everything to ensure a successful tournament,’’ he said.
Bobai later told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that he was happy to see the young ones participating in the just introduced junior category of the competition.
“I am particularly impressed by the young ones participating in this event; this implies victory for Nigeria and hope for them catching up.
“All we need to do is to get it right and that is why we are encouraging the younger ones to take to swimming as a sport.
“While we are doing this we are getting them ready to replace the ageing ones and making available facilities that will make them to perform well at local and international competitions,’’ he said.
Bobai also restated that the naval command would continue to give adequate backing to the Nigeria Aquatic Federation to ensure good relationships with civilians.
“What this competition means to us is that apart from swimming being synonymous to our operations; it is an avenue for us to catch would-be champions in swimming.
“It is also an avenue for us to foster the relationships that abound in us and civilians. We will continue to make the fire
burning in this direction of good relationships.
“Personally, I believe that there are some sports traditionally which we might not do well, so, if we want to compete well with Americans and the Europeans we will need heavy investment it.
“What we must do is also to encourage swimming from grassroots; train the children and make swimming culturally our sport otherwise we may not do well in it,’’ he said.
NAN reports that at the end of the first final, 14 gold medals silver and bronze were won.
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