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The newly appointed Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral I. Abbas, has identified crude oil theft, sea robbery, illegal bunkering, Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, and drug trafficking as major threats to Nigeria’s maritime sector. In a speech delivered on Thursday during the handing-over ceremony, Admiral Abbas said these threats not only undermine Nigeria’s national economy and energy security but also endanger the livelihoods of coastal communities and the nation’s overall economic stability and prosperity. According to Admiral I. Abbas, “It is with a profound sense of honour, humility and gratitude to God almighty that I stand before you today as the 23rd Chief of the Naval Staff. “I am eternally grateful to the President and Commander-in-Chief, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for finding me worthy to lead the Nigerian Navy. I am humbled by the trust bestowed upon me and fully recognise the responsibilities this esteemed office carries. “Today marks not just a personal milestone, but also a reaffirmation of our collective commitment to the values and mission of the Nigerian Navy. As I assume command, I, by God’s grace, promise to uphold the proud traditions of excellence and service that define our Navy. “I am fully aware of the immense responsibilities associated with this role, and I commit to executing my duties with unwavering dedication, integrity, fairness and loyalty to the Nigerian nation. “I wish to acknowledge the contributions of my predecessors, whose exemplary leadership has laid a solid foundation for the progress and achievements we have made thus far. In particular, I wish to pay special tribute to my immediate predecessor, Vice Admiral E. I. Ogalla, for his visionary leadership and commendable service. “The foundation he has built and the strides made under his command provide a solid platform upon which we must now build. His legacy embodies humility and dedication to the ideals of the Nigerian Navy; we value and honour your service to our dear nation, Sir. “The Nigerian Navy has a standing legacy of protecting our nation’s maritime domain, from the coastal waters to the deep blue expanse of the Gulf of Guinea. Our officers and ratings have consistently demonstrated courage, professionalism, and resilience. ALSO READ: Ex-convict arrested for theft five days after release from Kirikiri prison I salute every member of the Navy family for your service and sacrifice. “However, I am not unaware that our maritime environment remains threatened by the scourge of crude oil theft, sea robbery, illegal bunkering, Illegal Unreported Unregulated fishing and drug trafficking. These crimes not only undermine our national economy and energy security but also threaten the livelihoods of our coastal communities and the economic stability and prosperity of our dear nation. “To confront these challenges decisively, my tenure will be guided by a clear and actionable strategic approach focusing on strengthening maritime security and combating illegalities, enhancing the operational capability of our fleet through aggressive fleet renewal, the use of technology, prioritising training and personnel welfare, as well as fostering inter-agency synergy, regional and international collaboration. Specifically, serious attention will be given to the imperatives of jointness with sister services and close cooperation with relevant security agencies in the conduct of operations towards tackling the pervasive security threats confronting our dear nation. “To all officers, ratings, and civilian staff, the task ahead is demanding, but it is not insurmountable. I call on you to rededicate yourselves to the core values of our service, which are Integrity, Professionalism, and Teamwork. “I wish to reiterate that the Nigerian Navy under my watch will be a professional and accountable institution. We all know that the maritime domain is the lifeline of our economy, and the Nigerian Navy is fully committed to safeguarding it for national prosperity. “We will work tirelessly to ensure that our waters are safe for legitimate commerce and the exploration of our blue economy. I demand the highest standards of discipline and moral conduct from every one of you. In return, I promise to lead from the front, to listen, and to ensure that your welfare remains a top priority. “The journey ahead is a collective one that requires cooperation and synergy with other security agencies and the unwavering commitment of every member of the Nigerian Navy. I am confident that with the support of the Commander-in-Chief and the solidarity of all Nigerians, we shall steer the Nigerian Navy towards a more glorious future.” In his valedictory speech, the outgoing Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral E. I. Ogalla, presented a scorecard of his tenure as Chief of the Naval Staff. In his words, “In the last 2 years and 5 months of my command, the Nigerian Navy made significant strides in its operational activities with commendable improvement in the nation’s maritime security. “We have preserved the sanctity of our maritime space, ensuring there was no piracy incident under my watch, following Nigeria’s delisting from the International Maritime Bureau’s Global Piracy Report on 3 March 2022. “Our anti-crude oil theft/illegal bunkering operations were rejigged through the introduction of Operation DELTA SANITY in January 2024 and sustained as DELTA SANITY II on 30 December 2024 to build on recorded gains. “Since the launch of the operation, over 800 illegal refining sites and 5,515 storage facilities were deactivated, with over 240 suspects and 76 vessels arrested. It is also gratifying to state that, sequel to Presidential Directive, the NN under my watch commenced fiscalisation duties in the nation’s major oil and gas export terminals. “This measure has supported the efforts of statutory agencies by enhancing transparency at the terminals, resulting in increased oil production, which has been acclaimed to be the highest in the last decade. “I am equally pleased to recall significant progress made in fleet recapitalisation and maintenance. During my tenure, the NN acquired 2 survey vessels, 57 riverine boats, 7 fast patrol boats, 6 insurrection patrol crafts, 3 tugboats, and 2 capital ships. “We also acquired 5 transport helicopters, 5 logistics barges, and 23 unmanned aerial vehicles. Our indigenous shipbuilding effort is progressing well, with the construction of Seaward Defence Boats 4 and 5 at the Naval Dockyard nearing completion. “We equally implemented a comprehensive maintenance programme to ensure that existing assets remain in optimal condition, thereby extending their service life and operational readiness. “Infrastructural renewal and development have received tremendous attention since I assumed command. New bases and institutions were established in Kaduna, Kano, Kogi, Lagos, Rivers, Benue, Ogun, Niger, and Enugu states, among others. “Significant investment was also made in upgrading existing facilities across all commands. In this regard, various projects were initiated, including accommodations, administrative blocks, jetties, roads, and drainages, as well as strategic POL storage facilities. These infrastructural enhancements have proved vital in improving immediate operational responses and sustaining long-term maritime security readiness. “Under my watch, several policy interventions were initiated in order to reposition the NN towards achieving its statutory mandate. These include the establishment of the Special Operations Command and the Nigerian Navy Marines. “The Nigerian Navy Marine is being trained and equipped to conduct special operations in the littoral and land warfare under the coordination of the Special Operations Command. The first batch of trainees are expected to graduate from the newly established Nigerian Navy Marines Training Centre in February 2026. “In further recognition of the importance of training, we created a dedicated training branch from the erstwhile Training and Operations Branch to drive our efforts at generating the required manpower proficiency. Equally worthy of mention is the decentralisation of the NN administrative system through the promulgation of NNO 14/25, delegating routine management tasks to NHQ PSOs and AAs while the CNS provides the needed leadership and direction to the NN in line with my mission command philosophy. “All these successes, some of which time will not allow me to mention, belong to every one of you — the officers who planned with precision, the ratings who executed with discipline, and the civilian workforce whose support remains invaluable. You are the custodians of the honour and legacy of our Navy. “Together, we strengthened our naval capabilities through improved platforms, enhanced welfare, and rigorous training that keeps pace with evolving maritime realities. “To our families, who are represented here today by NOWA members, I want to thank you for your resilience. I also want to commend the members of NOWA, under the leadership of the National President, for the significant progress made in developing NOWA schools and related centres that serve the educational and welfare needs of our wards. Family remains a foundational support in an officer’s career, and I encourage everyone to prioritise their family commitments. Our wives are the anchors that steady our course, even when duty calls us far from home. I am sure our wives will be happy to receive us back after many years of meritorious service. “I thank the Almighty God for the grace to have served my country through the years. I also sincerely appreciate the President, Commander-in-Chief, for the privilege to serve as Chief of the Naval Staff and for the resources provided. My sincere appreciation also goes to state governors, the Honourable Minister of Defence, the Honourable Minister of State for Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff, and my colleagues in other services for all their support. “I am also immensely grateful to my predecessors, the icons of the Navy, for their support and for being available to offer wise counsel whenever they are called upon. To the NN family, I thank you all , PSOs, commanders, officers, and ratings, for your teamwork and professionalism, which made our achievements possible. I must not fail to thank, in particular, my immediate family , my wife, Mrs Ijeoma Ogalla, and my children, Glory and Deborah for their love and support throughout my career. “On this note, I urge you all to extend the same level of cooperation I enjoyed as CNS to my successor, R Adm I. Abbas. I further urge you all to remain loyal, first to the Constitution, the President and Commander-in-Chief, and to all constituted authorities of our democracy. May the Almighty grant safe passage in all your operations, and may the Nigerian Navy forever remain the pride of our nation.” NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
