By Sandra Chukwunyere
More than 1,500 personnel of the Western Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy took to the streets of Lagos on Saturday for the Command’s Second Quarter Route March, an exercise aimed at strengthening physical fitness, enhancing combat preparedness and reinforcing the operational effectiveness of the Service.
The exercise brought together officers, ratings and civilian staff from the Headquarters Western Naval Command, ships, establishments and other affiliated units. It commenced in the early hours of the day, with participants marching along designated routes before ending at the Nigerian Navy Ultra-Modern Sports Complex in Navy Town, Ojo, where they rounded off the exercise with stretching and recovery drills.
Addressing the personnel after the march, the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abdullahi Abubakar Mustapha, applauded their discipline, resilience and impressive turnout, describing the exercise as a vital component of the Nigerian Navy’s fitness programme.
He said the quarterly route march is designed to keep personnel physically fit, mentally alert and fully prepared to discharge the constitutional responsibilities of the Service effectively.
Rear Admiral Mustapha noted that the exercise also serves as an avenue to deepen teamwork, strengthen unity of purpose and promote esprit de corps among officers, ratings and civilian staff, adding that these values are critical to building a professional and mission-focused naval force.
He encouraged personnel to embrace physical fitness as a continuous lifestyle rather than an occasional exercise, stressing that naval operations demand endurance, resilience and the ability to perform effectively under challenging conditions both at sea and ashore.
The successful completion of the route march, according to the Flag Officer Commanding, further underscores the Western Naval Command’s commitment to sustaining operational readiness, promoting teamwork and maintaining the high standards of professionalism expected of the Nigerian Navy.
