Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, has decried the menace of sit-at-home and the enforcement of same by criminals in the South-eastern states.

Ogalla said the aberration has the tendency of drawing the region backwards in terms of development.

The Naval Chief, however, expressed satisfaction on security provided by the Naval outpost in Onitsha, Anambra State, and urged for continued efforts to check criminality in the state.

Ogalla, who spoke in Onitsha yesterday, said the Naval outpost in Ogbaru Local Council was established with assistance from the state government, particularly the unit’s shoreline and the fencing.

The Navy boss expressed worry over erosion threatening facilities at the outpost, lamenting that the gully occasioned by flooding had become a perennial experience.

He solicited for assistance and called on relevant agencies and stakeholders to come to the aid of the outpost in rescuing the unit from getting submerged.

According to him, “The purpose of this visit is first of all, to see our units and establishment as they are and to assess the situation on ground to find strategies on how to improve on our operations.”

He added: “The tour of units and establishments has become necessary for assessment of the prevailing situation with a view to finding strategies to improve on their operations.

“We have seen some difficult challenges and the environment in which the Naval outpost Onitsha is operating. We can also see the effect of erosion on our shoreline, as well as the fence that has collapsed.

“The base has been able to contribute effectively to the policing duties, which is one of their roles here. We are happy with what our personnel are doing, we encourage them to do more.”

Ogalla, however, cautioned that the challenges they have encountered did not significantly impact negatively on their effectiveness.

He added: “We have taken note of some of the things to do so that we can improve, particularly in the area of anti oil theft and auto bunkering, which are major critical areas we are assessing towards improving on our operations.

“I assure that our personnel will redouble their efforts to do more to ensure that peace returns in the region.”

Governor Chukwuma Soludo, who also played host to Vice Admiral Ogalla at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia, during a courtesy visit, assured that the state would continue to partner with the Nigerian Navy as well as supporting interventions for greater mutual output and safer region.

Soludo said Ogalla’s appointment was greeted with much jubilation in the Southeast region and commended the President for the goodwill.