Navy debunks report on outgoing Chief of Naval Staff, Gambo refusal to hand over to successor

The Nigerian Navy has described as false and misleading a news report in some online media platforms which claimed the outgoing Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo refused to hand over power to his successor, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla.

Ogalla”s appointment as the new Chief of Naval Staff was announced on Monday following the removal of all Service Chiefs including Vice Admiral Gambo by President Bola Tinubu.

A statement signed by the Director of Information, Naval headquarters, Commodore Ayo Vaughan, on Wednesday said contrary to the claims in the report, handing and taking over ceremony in the Nigerian Navy from inception is procedural.

According to him, upon the announcement of the change of the ‘Watch on deck’, the outgoing CNS is expected to give detailed brief to the incoming CNS, tour key naval facilities and perform the ceremonial lowering of ensign.

He explained that the programme of events leading to the formal handing and taking over ceremony has kicked off and would culminate at a public ceremony on Friday 23 June 2023 in line with age-long naval tradition.

The statement reads, “The attention of the Naval Headquarters has been drawn to a malicious publication by some online media such as Peoples Gazette, opr.news, hallmarknews and others alleging the refusal of the outgoing Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral AZ Gambo CFR to hand over to the incoming Chief of the Naval Staff, Rear Admiral EI Ogalla.

“The media reports are totally lies, misleading and capable of spreading falsehood to unsuspecting members of the public. It is therefore necessary to put the record straight. Suffice to state that handing and taking over ceremony in the Nigerian Navy from inception is procedural.

” Upon the announcement of the change of the ‘Watch on deck’, the outgoing CNS is expected to give detailed brief to the incoming CNS, tour key naval facilities and perform the ceremonial lowering of ensign. Accordingly, the programme of events leading to the formal handing and taking over ceremony has kicked off to culminate at a public ceremony on Friday 23 June 2023 in line with age-long naval tradition.

“Instructively, it is pertinent to mention that sister Services are also due to hand over as they have set aside specific dates for their handing and taking over ceremonies.

“Members of the public are therefore advised to discountenance the malicious publication and erroneous information as a figment of the reporter’s imagination. “