In a bid to enhance professionalism and mission readiness among its personnel, the Eastern Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy has conducted a three-day small arms firing exercise.
The exercise, held from May 14 to 16, 2025, at the headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command in Calabar, was aimed at improving marksmanship, weapon handling, safety protocols, and combat preparedness.
The event commenced with an inaugural shot fired by Rear Admiral Danjuma Mohammed Ndanusa, who represented the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Rear Admiral Saheed Adeshina Akinwande.
All units under the Eastern Naval Command in the Calabar area, as well as the Naval War College of Nigeria, actively participated in the exercise. Designed to respond to evolving security challenges, the drills emphasized both individual skills and collective operational effectiveness.
Participants engaged in full-scale live-fire drills using various small arms, firing at targets set at 200m, 100m, and 50m ranges. Personnel were divided into 10-man syndicates to ensure focused supervision, hands-on instruction, and effective performance assessment.
In a demonstration of joint-service cooperation, gunnery instructors from the Nigerian Army’s 13 Brigade were also invited to support the training, further reinforcing inter-agency collaboration.
Rear Admiral Akinwande highlighted the critical role of such exercises in maintaining proficiency and enhancing the Navy’s combat readiness in the face of emerging threats.
