The Nigerian Navy says it has begun a swimming competition for officers and ratings nationwide to improve personnel proficiency to eradicate “sea blindness’’ during operations.
The Flag Officer Commanding Naval Training Command, Rear Adm. Babalola Egbedina, made this known at the “Second Annual Intra Command Swimming Competition (AICSC)” in Port Harcourt.
Egbedina said that the three-day event, featuring 250 naval sailors and other officials drawn from different formations and units, was also aimed at discovering talents to participate in international swimming competitions.
“The second edition of the naval training command swimming competition is aimed at ensuring that the Nigerian Navy keys into Mr President’s charge to the Armed Forces of Nigeria to at least, produce one medal at international (swimming) competitions.
“When we (navy) discuss at international forays, we found out that one of the reasons why African navies are backward is because of sea blindness.
“There should be a renewed interest by way of ensuring survivability of our (Nigerian) navy through the most important factor; the man, considering that 70 per cent of the human body is composed of water.
“So, the Chief of the Naval Staff had identified a strategy which is to revive consciousness to ensure that we produce medal winning hopefuls in international competitions.