Gambo: Strength of Fighting Force Is Built on Fitness, Institutional Cohesion

The Nigerian Navy's 70th anniversary celebrations included a polo tournament where former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Awwal Gambo (rtd), emphasized that a fighting force's true strength lies beyond its platforms and operational engagements. He asserted that fitness, discipline, esprit de corps, institutional cohesion, and healthy competition are the cornerstones of military effectiveness.

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The Service has grown steadily as a vital instrument of national security, maritime governance and national development, with enduring contributions to the protection of Nigeria’s maritime domain, support to internal security and promotion of regional maritime stability.

Gambo stated that sustained military success hinges on the physical readiness of personnel, strict adherence to professional standards, and robust unity within the armed forces. These foundational values, he explained, are critical for any security organization to remain capable, resilient, and effective in fulfilling its constitutional duties. The tournament served as a reminder of these essential elements.

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Today’s tournament is therefore a fitting reminder that the strength of a fighting force is not built on platforms and operations alone, but also on fitness, discipline, esprit de corps, institutional cohesion and healthy competition.

Speaking at the event, the current Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, lauded the Nigerian Navy as a formidable maritime force and a vital component of the nation's security architecture. He noted the Navy's significant contributions to protecting Nigeria's maritime domain, supporting internal security, and promoting regional maritime stability over its 70-year history.

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Events such as this strengthen bonds across institutions and communities, while reminding us that sport remains a powerful instrument for unity, fitness, friendship and national cohesion.

Abbas echoed Gambo's sentiments, highlighting that the Navy's progress and the reduction of insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea are driven by discipline, resilience, teamwork, and sound judgment among its personnel. He drew parallels between these values and the sport of polo, where success requires coordination, mutual trust, situational awareness, and decisive action under pressure, quoting Nelson Mandela that "Sport has the power to change the world."

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Accordingly, the reduction in maritime insecurity within the Gulf of Guinea, as well as the Navy’s progress over the past 70 years, has been driven by discipline, resilience, teamwork, and sound judgement among its personnel.