By Our Correspondent

In a bid to strengthen its military headships in parts of the country, the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER in Rivers State has witnessed a change of leadership as Commodore Mutalib Ibikunle Raji formally assumed duty as the 33rd Commander.

Commodore Raji took over from Rear Admiral Cajethan Aniaku who formally handed over command after eighteen (18) months of steady operational leadership at the strategic Naval Base in the heart of Port Harcourt, Capital of the oil rich Rivers State.

The handing-over and taking-over ceremony, held at the Commander’s Office marked the end of Rear Admiral Aniaku’s tenure as the 32nd Commander and the beginning of a new era, and a formal signing of transition notes and the transfer of the Ship’s Flag and Staff of Office.

In his valedictory remarks, the outgoing Commander, Rear Admiral Aniaku, expressed deep gratitude to officers, ratings, civilian staff and media for their unwavering support, noting that their collective commitment underpinned the achievements of his tenure.

Rear Admiral Aniaku urged all personnel to extend the same loyalty and dedication to his successor, Commodore Raji, expressing confidence that he will sustain and even surpass existing standards at NNS PATHFINDER as the new Commander.

He expressed confidence in his successor’s ability to sustain and surpass existing standards and achievements at the NNS Pathfinder.

In his assumption speech, the new Commander, NNS PATHFINDER, Commodore Mutalib Ibikunle Raji thanked the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas (Admiralty Medal), for the trust and confidence placed in him.

Commodore Raji praised his predecessor’s achievements and pledged to consolidate on the gains while maintaining a high operational readiness in line with the the CNS’s vision, mission, and Command philosophy, anchored on professionalism, discipline, teamwork, operational excellence and providing robust logistic and maintenance support, enabling effective command and control as well as base security while supporting inter-agency cooperation.

He emphasised on strict compliance with operational directives aimed at addressing prevailing security challenges and protecting all government’s critical assets in the NNS Pathfinder’s area of responsibility to boost the nation’s economy.

Commodore Raji highlighted the strategic position of NNS PATHFINDER in discharging the Nigerian Navy’s constitutional roles, particularly in maritime security, coastal defence, and maintenance of law and order within the maritime domain.

He vowed to tackle crude oil theft, illegal bunkering, pipeline vandalism, piracy, and other maritime crimes shall continue to receive the highest operational priority, and averred that NNS PATHFINDER under his watch will not relent in upholding the Nigerian Navy’s mandate to secure the maritime environment.

He added that his administration will maintain open-door leadership style, prioritize personnel welfare and sustain existing welfare programmes and professional development, enhance living and work conditions within available resources, and provide opportunities for continuous learning and training.

He also pledged to intensify intelligence-led operations, improve inter-agency collaboration, and enhance surveillance and patrol efforts to deny criminal elements freedom of action within the waters.

He said, “I am fully aware of the responsibilities this Command entails and the high standards expected of us as representatives of the Nigerian Navy.

“NNS PATHFINDER will remain steadfast in contributing to the attainment of the CNS’s vision and mission by ensuring and maintaining high operational readiness, providing robust logistic and maintenance support, enabling effective command and control as well as base security while supporting inter-agency cooperation.

“Our area of responsibility remains pivotal to the nation’s maritime economy and security. Therefore, the fight against crude oil theft, illegal bunkering, pipeline vandalism, piracy, and other maritime crimes shall continue to receive the highest operational priority.

“We shall improve inter-agency collaboration, enhance surveillance and patrol efforts to deny criminal elements freedom of action within our waters, as well as upholding the Nigerian Navy’s mandate to secure our maritime environment and protect critical national assets in support of Nigeria’s economic stability.”

He urged officers and ratings to uphold the core values of the Nigerian Navy with all loyalty and professionalism be mission-oriented, stating that discipline will be firm but fair in his administration while performance will be recognized and rewarded accordingly.

He solicited the cooperation, support, and prayers of everyone as they move forward together, so that NNS PATHFINDER will continue to stand out as a model within the Nigerian Navy.

“The challenges within our maritime environment require synergy, mutual trust, and shared commitment. We will, therefore, sustain an active posture of collaboration, professionalism, and respect in all our engagements, continue to strengthen cooperation with sister security agencies, maritime stakeholders, and host communities, and also intensify intelligence-led operations,” while ensuring that NNS PATHFINDER remains a symbol of national service, discipline, and integrity.

“As I assume this command, I do so with full awareness of the expectations of the Nigerian Navy and the nation at large.

“I pledge to discharge my duties with honour, courage, and total commitment to the service of our fatherland. Together, we shall uphold the Chief of the Naval Staff’s Strategic Directives, sustain the fight against all forms of maritime crimes, safeguard our maritime domain, and ensure that NNS PATHFINDER continues to stand as a formidable force in support of national security and economic prosperity. I solicit the cooperation, support, and prayers of everyone as we move forward together.

“Let us remain professional, disciplined, and mission-oriented in all our undertakings, so that Nigerian Navy Ship PATHFINDER will continue to stand out as a model within the Nigerian Navy. All standing orders, regulations, and instructions remain in effect.”

By Abdul-Ganiyy Akanbi,

The Federal Government has said veterinary professionals have a critical role to play in the realization of the present administration’s agenda on food security, wealth creation, employment generation, and national resilience.

Permanent Secretary, Service Policies and Strategies, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Ishiyaku Mohammed, stated this at the opening of a two-day veterinary leadership summit on Thursday in Abuja meant to find lasting solutions to the challenges confronting Nigeria’s livestock sub-sector.

Mohammed reminded participants that this responsibility rests squarely on their shoulders as professionals, stressing that the success of livestock development initiatives depends largely on their expertise and commitment.

According to him, the Tinubu administration created a separate Ministry of Livestock Development to mitigate the effects of climate change, rising temperatures, desertification, changing rainfall patterns, flooding, and increased competition over natural resources, factors that are significantly altering livestock production systems.

The Permanent Secretary further stated that the Federal Government has set an achievable target of increasing the livestock sector’s contribution to the Gross Domestic Product from the current 32 billion dollars to 74 billion dollars by the year 2035.

He maintained that this target cannot be achieved if the country continues to lose animals to preventable diseases and inefficient production systems.

Mohammed assured that the Federal Government will continue to collaborate closely with professional bodies to ensure that public policies are guided by expert knowledge and aligned with global best practices.

In his welcome address, the President of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association, NVMA, and the organiser of the summit, Dr. Moses Arokoyo, said the annual summit is deliberately structured to promote diversity, equity, and inclusiveness, while ensuring that women and young professionals from all regions are empowered to contribute meaningfully to national animal health outcomes.

Arokoyo expressed optimism that the outcome of the two-day summit would strengthen livestock systems, not only in Nigeria but globally.

He noted that disease burden, weak service delivery systems, climate pressures, insecurity, and inequitable access to veterinary services continue to limit the sector’s full potential.

Stakeholders in the livestock sub-sector, including the Veterinary Council of Nigeria, in their separate goodwill messages, emphasized the need for veterinary professionals to work together to complement the Federal Government’s drive for sustainable livestock development.

Representing the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, a renowned veterinarian, Dr Lami Lombin commended the leadership of NVMA as he informed the gathering that efforts are in progress to harmonize the veterinary surgeon act and the para animal health professional through a bill .

She challenged veterinarians to rise to the occasion,support themselves in diverse and ensure that the flag of the profession is maintained and raise high

Also, Thembinkosi Ramuthivheli, a Business Development and Engagement Manager and Edith Moroti, Associate Director, Outreach & Partnerships of GALVmed called on veterinarians to fight animal diseases burden in nigeria .The duo called for effective collaboration among the professionals to ensure rapid growth in the industry.

The President of Veterinary Council of Nigeria, Professor Matthew Adamu emphasized the need to give Arokoyo another chance to lead the veterinarians to the promise land as he maintained that is tenure as transformed the profession in the last two years.

He called on states chapter of the NVMA to work assiduously and support the association in the interest of the profession.

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to building a modern, integrated and responsive poultry disease surveillance system that will protect farmers, food system and the national economy.

The Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, Dr Anzaku Samuel, stated this in Abuja at the opening of a one-day training for one hundred selected poultry farmers across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT on strengthening private sector poultry laboratories in Nigeria.

Anzaku emphasized that the present administration was embarking on aggressive sensitisation of farmers, having realised that disease remains the single greatest threat to the poultry sector.

He noted that the need for disease surveillance has become imperative to avert outbreaks that affect productivity, feed efficiency, egg output, trade confidence and consumer safety.

According to him, there is a need for more collaboration between the government and the private sector to improve diagnosis turnaround time, so that farmers can receive results quickly enough to make timely management decisions.

Anzaku urged the participants to standardise reporting pathways so that information can flow more effectively, enhancing communication between veterinarians, laboratory diagnosticians and producers, and ensuring that surveillance becomes proactive rather than reactive.

He commended the Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Medicine for organising the training, which he said would strengthen the animal health system in Nigeria.

The Country Manager of the Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Medicine, Dr Moses Arokoyo, said the essence of the training was to encourage a diagnostic and preventive approach as a major way to tackle diseases and enhance profitability among poultry farmers in the country.

According to him, there should be more collaboration, as data lies with poultry farmers and is needed by the government to have accurate information on the development of the sector.

He, however, appealed to the Federal Government to make import regulations easier and to strengthen the capacity of farmers in rural areas for enhanced productivity.

The Director-General of the Poultry Association of Nigeria, Onalo Akpa, who also identified high production costs as one of the challenges facing farmers, appealed to the government to engage professionals in the livestock and crop sectors to strike a balance between producers of raw materials and livestock farmers in order to check the rising cost of production.

Onalu pointed out that the importation of raw materials is contributing to high production costs, which he said is affecting the economy.

The training provided an opportunity for farmers across the country and other stakeholders in the livestock sector to discuss various challenges hindering poultry development.