In its bid to stop ‘sea blindness’ and combat crime on the nation’s waterways, the Nigerian Navy has begun a swimming competition for officers and ratings across the country with a view to improving their skills during operations.
The Flag Officer Commanding Naval Training Command, Rear Admiral Babalola Egbedina, disclosed this in Port Harcourt on Thursday during the second annual Intra-Command Swimming Competition.
Egbedina also disclosed that 250 navy sailors and officials were part of the competition, adding that the competitors were drawn from various formations and units.
He pointed out that the event was also aimed at discovering talents that would represent the country in international swimming competitions.
Egbedina stated that the second edition of the competition was also to ensure that the Nigerian Navy keyed into President Goodluck Jonathan’s charge to the nation’s armed forces to produce at least a medal at international competitions.
He said, “The second edition of the AICSC is aimed at ensuring that the Nigerian Navy keys into Mr. Presidents charge to the Armed Forces of Nigeria to, at least, produce one medal at international competitions.
“When we (navy) discus at international fora, we found out that one of the reasons why African navies are backward is because of sea blindness.
“There should be a renewed interest by way of ensuring survivability of our navy through the most important factor; considering that 70 per cent of the human body is composed of water.”
Egbedina expressed the need for officers, ratings and others to begin to change their attitude towards sports, describing swimming as the king of sports.
“So, the Chief of Naval Staff had identified a strategy, which is to revive consciousness to ensure that we produce medal winning hopefuls for international competitions.
“We must begin to change our attitude towards sports because swimming is the king of sports – considering that not less than 50 medals are up for grabs in swimming sports,” he stressed.
The FOC, Naval Training Command, explained that the competition would also help to boost sailors’ confidence, fearlessness, courage, and survival instincts at sea.
This, according to him, will provide the capacity to better confront emerging security threats at the nation’s territorial waters.
Egbedina added that organisers of the competition were willing to partner the Nigerian Swimming Federation and corporate organisations to include civilian associations and clubs participation.
Earlier in his remark, the State Commissioner for Sports, Mr. Fred Igwe, lauded the Nigerian Navy for it efforts in improving the standard of the competition.
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