In a bid to improve operation at sea and waterways, the Nigerian navy said yesterday that it has begun compulsory training in swimming for its officers and ratings across the country.
The navy expressed surprise that majority of its personnel, including senior and junior cadre do not know how to swim.
The Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command, Rear Adm. Goddy Anyankpele made this known during its ongoing “First Annual Intra Command Swimming Competition, FAICSC”, in Onne, Rivers State.
He said the move at instituting mandatory swimming for its service members was germane to reduce potential accidents and personnel casualties during operations.
Anyankpele said the navy would sustain the training program until all service members and trainees’ were adequately trained.
The navy personnel competed in freestyle, backstroke, butterfly, breaststroke and medley swimming events.
In a related development, the navy yesterday took delivery of two brandnew sailing boats for the training of personnel at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School, NNBTS, in Onne.
The President of the Navy Officers Wives Association, NOWA, Mrs. Lami Jibrin, said during the commissioning that the boats would afford trainees, the opportunity to put into practice naval theories learnt in classrooms.
According to her, the sailing boats will greatly enhance the quality of training whilst improving sailing and seaman skills of trainees.
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