The Naval Headquarters has taken note of a malicious publication made by certain online media outlets such as Peoples Gazette, opr.news, hallmarknews, and others, falsely alleging that Vice Admiral AZ Gambo, the outgoing Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), has refused to hand over to Rear Admiral EI Ogalla, the incoming Chief of the Naval Staff.
Based on the statement signed and made public by Navy’s Director of Information, Commodore Ayo-Vaughan, the media reports are entirely false, misleading, and have the potential to spread falsehoods among unsuspecting members of the public. It is imperative to set the record straight.
“It should be clarified that the handing and taking over ceremony within the Nigerian Navy has always been a procedural matter.
“Following the announcement of a change in leadership, the outgoing CNS is expected to provide a comprehensive briefing to the incoming CNS, visit key naval facilities, and perform the ceremonial lowering of the ensign. Consequently, the series of events leading up to the official handing and taking over ceremony have already commenced, culminating in a public ceremony scheduled for Friday, June 23, 2023, in adherence to longstanding naval traditions.
“Also, it is important to note that sister services are also scheduled to conduct their own handover ceremonies on specific dates. Therefore, the public is advised to disregard the false publication and erroneous information, as they are mere products of the reporter’s imagination,” the statement noted.