As part of his nationwide assessment tour of the nation’s defence capabilities and economic assets, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa has visited the 146 Battalion of the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base, both in Bonny, Rivers State.

The visit, which was on the sidelines of his visit to the 6 Division, Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt, took place on Wednesday, February 21, 2024.

At the Farouk Yahaya Camp, home of the 146 Battalion, the Quarter Guard mounted a guard of honour for the Defence Chief, while he took the statutory salute.

He was then led on an inspection tour of facilities at the F. Yahaya Camp and briefed on operational activities of the Battalion by the Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. Oyemade Oyewumi, who also presented souvenirs to him.

The Chief of Defence Staff later paid a courtesy visit on the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base in Bonny where the Quarter Guard also mounted a guard of honour for him and was welcomed by the senior officers at the Base.  

In his entourage were the Chief of Defence Operations, Maj. Gen. Emeka Onumajuru, General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army; Major General Jamal Abdussalam, Commander, Operation Delta Safe (OPDS); Rear Admiral John Okeke, and Rear Admiral S. Ibrahim.

Others were the Commander, 6 Division Garrison, Nigerian Army; Brig. Gen. Edet Effiong, Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder; Commodore Desmond Igbo, Commander, 115 Special Operations Group, Nigerian Air Force, Port Harcourt, Air Commodore Ali Idris, and the Intelligence Coordinator, Theatre Command of the Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), Brig. Gen. Obinna Azuikpe.

His host, Lt. Col. Oyewumi, accompanied by his NNFOB counterpart, Capt. Maksum Mohammed, conducted the Chief Defence Staff around the NLNG jetty and Train 7 project site, Shell Nigeria’s Bonny Oil and Gas Terminal (BOGT), and the Finima Airstrip.

On hand to receive the august visitor at the Bonny Oil and Gas Terminal was a representative of the Terminal Manager, Yisa Taiwo, who thanked the CDS for coming to the facility, noting that the security provided the facility, alongside other company facilities in the area was commendable.

Accompanied by the Team Leader in charge of Terminal Operations, Goodluck Emoghware, and Team Leader, Health, Safety and Environment (HSE), Ajire Innocent, Mr. Taiwo explained that with the support of the security agencies, the company has been able to overcome the decline in production witnessed in 2022.

Incidentally, Bonny Island plays host to facilities of the oil majors in Nigeria including Shell Nigeria, Nigeria LNG, TotalEnergies, BelemaOil, and ExxonMobil, amongst others.

Aside, the 146 Battalion of the Nigerian Army (NA), and the Nigerian Navy (NN) Forward Operating Base (FOB), Bonny Island also plays host to two divisions of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), one division each of the State Security Service (SSS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), a unit each of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Nigerian Legion and its Corps of Commissionaires, leaving out only the Nigerian Air Force (NAF). 

Aside its statutory role of defending Nigeria’s territorial integrity and neutralizing internal threats, the 146 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, Bonny also serves as the land component of the Joint Task Force (JTF), also known as Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) around the Bonny environment, which is an integral component of the Gulf of Guinea security corridor.

Incidentally, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa happens to be the first high profile guest to be hosted by the Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. Oyemade Oyewumi since his assumption of duty in Bonny.

General Musa later departed through the Finima Airstrip enroute Port Harcourt where he continued his visit to the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army.