The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba, said any Naval officer who engaged in act of complicity in the course of duty would be sanctioned.
Ezeoba said this on Wednesday in Abuja at the signing of Performance Contract with Principal Staff Officers, Flag Officers Commanding and Unit Commanders.
He said it was obvious from available records and intelligence summary that officers and men of the Navy had in the past been guilty of complicity in the discharge of their duties.
“I have said that before and I am saying it again for the very last time; let it be clear that anybody found to have engaged in act of complicity in the discharge of his duties particularly with regards to the mandate we have at hand today will be sanctioned and dealt with according to the laws.
“As the saying goes, a word is enough for wise; it is either you are ready to do this job in consonance with laid down rules and regulations or you just quietly leave.
“The embarrassment to the government and the armed forces of this country by actions or inactions of a few will not be tolerated anymore; it is a clarion call for all us to live up to our responsibilities.?
Ezeoba said that the Navy had a responsibility to deliver on the president?s mandate which is to stop crude oil theft and illegal bunkering.
He said, therefore, that the Navy as a matter of policy established zero tolerance to in attitude and complicity.
According to him, the performance contract signing would provide the parameters for assessment of performance of officers in the field with regards to the structural responsibility they have been tasked with.
“This case focuses primarily on the elimination of crude oil theft and illegal bunkering particularly as it pertains to the current security challenges that we faced.
“I have also understood that there will be need for us to empower the various commands and operational bases to do the needful to ensure that that they optimise their efforts.?
