The House of Representatives on Monday said it would consider better budgetary allocation for the Nigerian Navy in the 2021 Appropriation Bill.
Rep. Yusuf Gadgi, Chairman, House Committee on Navy, made the disclosure when he led other members on inspection of projects at the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder in Port Harcourt.
According to him, the navy had recorded milestone achievements in the execution of projects in its formations and units as budgeted in the 2020 fiscal year.
“So, going by what we have seen from our visits to naval formations and units across the country, we can say that they are doing a good job.
“We are determined as a committee to ensure that we appropriate money in 2021 Fiscal Year to enable the navy to keep doing the incredible job that they are doing.
Gadji said the committee commenced its oversight function with visits to the Western Naval Command in Lagos and the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) in Calabar, Cross River.
“We are now in NNS Pathfinder as part of our ENC tour to see what the navy is doing with the funds that were allocated to them by Nigerians.
“The committee decided to differ from its original way of performing oversight function by primarily focusing on how the navy has fared so far.
“So, we are using this to judge if the navy has judiciously used money appropriated to them over the past seven years. We are impressed with the standard of projects,” he said.
Gadji said the committee also identified other challenges that have worked against navy operations, adding that necessary recommendations would be made by its members.
He thanked the navy for its improved operations and assured of the committee’s support in its fight against oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism and piracy on the waterways. (NAN)
