The Nigerian Naval College, Onne, on Saturday, embarked on sanitation exercise at the Onne Market in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers state, as part of events marking civil-military relations activities in their environs.
The exercise which saw Naval personnel clearing the heap of refuse dumped on median of the road, opening the drains blocked by plastic bottles, nylon,waste and cutting grasses within the market, attracted the concern of the locals who watched them with admiration.
Speaking with newsmen in an interview, the commandant of the college, Commodore Pakiribo Anabraba, said the activities were intended to encourage improved relationship between the navy and the local communities.
He added that they were also intended to make the locals trust and cooperate with the Navy as friends.
This, he said, will in turn establish necessary confidence and trustworthiness such that the locals can confide in the navy to provide necessary information and intelligence to root out maritime criminal elements in the area.
“This is one of the civil-military activities organized by the Nigerian Navy to stregthen the existing cordial relationship between the Nigerian Navy and our host communities- in this case, the Nigerian Naval college and our host communities.
“Recall in an earlier forum, I had stated that the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral AZ Gambo has zero tolerance for maritime related crimes.
“So, he has mandated all Naval units to ensure that they take care of their host communities as a way of positively influencing them so that they can support the Nigerian Navy’s drive in completely eradicating crimes in the maritime environment.
” You know the Nigerian Navy is very neat and hygiene conscious service. So, what we are doing is something we are used to”, he said.
Speaking further, the commandant appealed to residents of Onne to maintain a clean and healthy environment.
Traders and residents expressed gratitude to the Navy for their intervention.
A shop owner, Patience Edeh, thanked the Navy for removing nuisance from the market and other waste products in the area.
She regretted that every nooks and crannies of the area was filled with dumps of refuse and garbage with stinking odour which poses health hazards to the residents.
“Today, the Navy has removed them. They really tried. We can now receive fresh air. I am very happy.
“When I came in the morning, i said if this is how the government will be working then there will be no problem”., she said.
On his part, an indigene of Onne , Mr. Mishael Okundo, commended the Navy for carrying out the exercise in the community
“The environmental situation of this place was horrible. But, today, the Navy has kept it clean and decent.
“I never believe that the Navy could be able to condenscend so low even with their uniforms to do this kind of fantastic clean up exercise.
“I thank them for evacuating the mountain of dirts in this place. God will bless them”, he stated.
