The newly appointed Commander of the Nigerian Navy Ship NNS BEECROFT, Commodore Paul Nimmyel has pledged to maintain a robust relationship and partner with the media to promote a better understanding of the Navy’s operation.
Speaking at a media parley at the Naval Base in Apapa on Thursday, Commodore Nimmyel emphasized the importance of information and feedback in preventing the spread of misinformation.
The commander urged journalists to help tell the Navy’s story and see them as partners in protecting Nigeria’s waterways and defending the nation.
He also promised to operate an open door policy.
He said, “There are times we have altercations with the larger society, we are Nigerians and things do happen. We try to admonish our men as much as possible, and make them realize that it is your tax that pays our salary.
“We’re here to serve you. We’re here to defend you, and not to pick up arms, brutalize, or to go against the general public.
“So, please help us to tell our story and I”m always available as much as possible.”
He continued, “Information is very critical, and there must be a feedback system. Most times when it comes to the military, you hear things like, “All efforts to reach the commander proved abortive”. Those are the things we want to eradicate.
“If you don’t give the media your own side of the story, they will tell it for you. And trust me, you will not like it. So, there and now, I want to promise that as much as possible, whatever information you will need regarding the base operations, or whatever stories or events that may come up outside our operations, our doors are always open.”
Commodore Nimmyel thanked the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ikechukwu Ogalla for finding him worthy to serve as the Commander of NNS BEECROFT.
“I thank God for the rare privilege to be able to be in command of the premier base of the Nigerian Navy.
The Navy started from here. And I’m proud to be one of those who carry on with the tradition of this base.
“So, it’s a mixed feeling for me. I started my career in the Navy as a seaman, and as one of you.
“I started as the Information officer of NAVTRAC, as a Sub-Lieutenant. And somehow, I’ve been in and out of the media space. I was the Information officer at Calabar, and in Port Harcourt.
So, I understand what it is about the media. And that’s why I think it fits that we have this informal meet-and-greet to get to know ourselves, ” he told the journalists.
