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From Tony John, Port Harcourt
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division Nigerian Army and Land Component Commander Joint Task Force (South-South) Operation Delta Safe, Major General Emmanuel Emekah, has emphasised the importance of physical fitness for personnel tasked with protecting critical national assets in the Niger Delta region.
Speaking at the 6 Division two-day Inter-Brigade Swimming Competition 2025 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Monday, June 2, Major General Emekah, represented by the Chief of Staff 6 Division, Brigadier General Emmanuel Adamu, stressed that personnel must remain physically fit to combat criminal activities in the oil-rich Niger Delta.
He described the competition as not only a testament to the soldiers’ athletic ability but also a critical reflection of their operational readiness and effectiveness. The event aligns with the Chief of Army Staff’s command philosophy to consolidate the transformation of the Nigerian Army into a well-motivated, combat-ready force capable of fulfilling constitutional responsibilities in a joint and multi-agency environment.
Major General Emekah noted that the 6 Division, as guardians of the nation’s vital assets in the South-South region, is tasked with securing critical oil and gas infrastructure. He emphasised the need for soldiers to develop physical and tactical skills to deliver on this mandate and prevent criminal activities, such as illegal oil bunkering, within the Joint Area of Operations (JOA).
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“In the dynamic and ever-evolving landscape of modern warfare, and indeed in our Joint Area of Operations (JAOs), the ability to navigate and thrive in riverine environments is crucial. As soldiers of this Division, you are the guardians of our nation’s most vital assets within the South-South region, tasked with securing our critical national assets and infrastructure in the oil sector,” he said.
The chief host, Commander 6 Division Garrison, Brigadier General Sani Ahmed, added that the competition marks a significant occasion to showcase the teamwork of Nigerian Army personnel. He noted that it provides a vital opportunity to develop skills for navigating riverine operations, particularly in the South-South region.
“This competition is not merely an event, but a vital opportunity to develop more skills to navigate and drive the riverine operations, especially the ones we find ourselves operating in within the South-South region of Nigeria,” Ahmed stated.
The 6 Division, headquartered in Port Harcourt, oversees brigades in Akwa Ibom (2 Brigade), Bayelsa (16 Brigade), and Delta (63 Brigade), focusing on curbing illegal bunkering, pipeline vandalism, and other threats to oil infrastructure. The swimming competition, involving 67 soldiers from these formations, includes events like 50m backstroke, butterfly, freestyle, and breaststroke, aimed at enhancing amphibious operational capabilities.
