The Nigerian Navy Provost and Regulating School, Makurdi, on Friday conducted a combined graduation ceremony for officers and ratings who completed the Advanced Provost Officers Course 02/25, Advanced Detective Investigation Course 02/25, and Outrider Course 09/25.
The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, described the graduation as another milestone in the Navy’s sustained drive to produce highly trained and professional personnel capable of meeting contemporary security and law enforcement challenges.
Represented by the Operations Officer of the Nigerian Navy Special Operations Command, Commodore Maksum Mohammed, the CNS commended the graduands for successfully completing what he described as rigorous and mentally demanding courses aimed at enhancing the Navy’s forensic, investigative, and operational capabilities.
Vice Admiral Abbas, who was the Special Guest of Honour, noted that the graduates constituted the second batch of officers and ratings to benefit from the newly introduced specialist courses, positioning them as custodians of forensic competence and professional investigation within the Nigerian Navy.
He praised the trainees for their discipline and resilience throughout the 10-week programme and urged them to uphold courage, professionalism, and a sound understanding of the law as they return to their respective units to undertake critical assignments.
The naval chief also commended the Commandant and staff of the Provost and Regulating School for their dedication and reiterated the commitment of Naval Headquarters to continuous training and retraining as a means of strengthening the Nigerian Navy Provost Department.
Abbas further described the presence of top military and security dignitaries at the event as a clear demonstration of strong inter-agency cooperation in Benue State, stressing that such collaboration remained vital in addressing prevailing security challenges across the state and the nation at large.
Earlier in his remarks, the Commandant of the School, Commodore Suleiman Abdullahi, said the courses were in line with the CNS’s vision of building a highly professional naval force through quality and specialized training.
He explained that the Advanced Provost Officers Course and Advanced Detective Investigation Course were introduced to bridge observable gaps in forensic and investigative skills among naval provost personnel, noting that the current graduands were only the second set since the courses were introduced in 2024.
According to him, the School adopted a blend of classroom instruction, practical demonstrations, and field exercises to ensure that participants were equipped with global best practices in law enforcement within and outside the military environment.
Commodore Abdullahi disclosed that the two advanced courses were conducted in collaboration with the Institute of Forensic Studies of Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi, while the Outrider Course focused on developing the practical mobility and escort skills required for the safe movement of Very Important Personalities (VIPs).
He also drew attention to the School’s need for expansion, noting that its activities were currently constrained by its temporary location. The commandant expressed appreciation to the Benue State Government for allocating land at North Bank to facilitate the School’s planned relocation and future growth.
Also speaking, the Vice Chancellor of Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University, Prof. Emmanuel Kenen, represented by Prof. Emmanuel Ottoh, commended the Nigerian Navy for sustaining a productive partnership with the institution. He emphasized that synergy among security agencies and academic institutions remained critical to addressing Nigeria’s security challenges.
The ceremony marked another significant step in the Nigerian Navy’s efforts to build a disciplined, skilled, and professional force capable of responding effectively to emerging security demands.
