Western Naval Command holds route march to boost operational readiness, physical fitness

The Western Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy on Saturday conducted its Second Quarter Route March in Lagos, reaffirming its commitment to enhancing the physical fitness, combat readiness and operational efficiency of its personnel.

The exercise, which began in the early hours of the day, drew more than 1,500 personnel from the headquarters, Western Naval Command, ships, establishments and other affiliated units under the command.

The participants marched through designated routes across Lagos before converging at the Nigerian Navy Ultra-Modern Sports Complex in Navy Town, Ojo, where they concluded the exercise with stretching and recovery drills.

Addressing the participants, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abdullahi Abubakar Mustapha, commended the officers, ratings and civilian personnel for their discipline, resilience, endurance and impressive turnout.

He described the quarterly route march as a key component of the Nigerian Navy’s physical fitness programme, aimed at ensuring personnel remain physically fit, mentally alert and operationally prepared to effectively discharge the Service’s constitutional responsibilities.

Rear Admiral Mustapha said the exercise goes beyond physical conditioning, noting that it also strengthens camaraderie, teamwork, unity of purpose and esprit de corps among personnel.

According to him, these values are essential to building a cohesive and mission-oriented force capable of executing assigned tasks with professionalism and efficiency.

The FOC urged personnel to sustain the discipline and professionalism demonstrated during the exercise by making physical fitness a continuous personal commitment rather than an occasional activity.

He stressed that the demanding nature of naval operations requires personnel who are physically fit and capable of withstanding the rigours of both sea and land operations while maintaining the highest standards of military professionalism.

The exercise ended with stretching and recovery drills at the Nigerian Navy Ultra-Modern Sports Complex, marking the successful completion of the Command’s Second Quarter Route March and reinforcing the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to physical fitness, operational readiness, teamwork and service excellence.