By Treasure Chuka
The Nigerian Navy has unveiled activities lined up for its 70th anniversary celebration, highlighting decades of maritime security operations, regional peacekeeping missions, fleet expansion and anti-crude oil theft efforts.
Speaking during an international press conference at the Naval Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, the Chief of Policy and Plans, Rear Admiral Akinola Olatunde Olodude, said the anniversary celebration would run from May 21 to June 4, 2026, across Lagos and naval formations nationwide.
Olodude, who spoke on behalf of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, described the anniversary as a historic milestone marking the Navy’s transformation from a modest coastal force established in 1956 into what he called a “formidable instrument of national power and regional stability.”
He said the Nigerian Navy was established on June 1, 1956, as the Naval Defence Force with 250 officers and men and 11 inherited ships before becoming the Royal Nigerian Navy in 1958 and later the Nigerian Navy after Nigeria became a republic in 1963.
According to him, the Navy played critical roles during the Nigerian Civil War between 1967 and 1970 through maritime blockades, amphibious operations and protection of vital sea routes.
He added that the Navy also participated in several regional and international peacekeeping operations, including missions in Lebanon, Liberia, Sierra Leone, The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau.
Olodude said the Navy’s operations contributed significantly to regional security and humanitarian support efforts across West Africa and beyond.
On maritime security, he stated that Nigeria has remained off the International Maritime Bureau’s piracy-prone nations list since 2022 due to sustained naval operations in the Gulf of Guinea.
He further disclosed that the Navy has intensified anti-crude oil theft and illegal refining operations in the Niger Delta in line with the Federal Government’s target of increasing crude oil production to three million barrels per day by 2030.
According to him, figures from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited showed that Nigeria’s average crude oil production rose from 1.258 million barrels per day in January 2023 to 1.71 million barrels per day in April 2026
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The naval chief also highlighted indigenous shipbuilding efforts, noting that the Navy had constructed five vessels since 2010, including ferries, tugboats and seaward defence boats.
He revealed that the Naval Dockyard Limited in Lagos is currently constructing two 44.2-metre Seaward Defence Boats, while the Naval Shipyard Limited in Port Harcourt is building a 27-metre ferry for the Akwa Ibom State Government.
Olodude said the anniversary celebration would feature an international fleet review, maritime exhibition, symposium, sports competitions, ship commissioning ceremonies and the arrival of foreign naval vessels from countries including Benin, Brazil, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana.
He disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to review the international fleet during the June 1 celebration at the Eko Atlantic Waterfront in Lagos.
The event will also witness the commissioning of new vessels NNS MAMBILA, NNS GURARA and NNS OLOIBIRI.
Olodude added that the anniversary would host heads of African navies, regional military commanders and international maritime organisations.
He said the 6th Seapower for Africa Symposium would focus on the theme: “Leveraging Technology for Enhanced Maritime Security in Africa.”
According to him, the Nigerian Navy is committed to becoming a highly digitised and networked blue-water navy capable of addressing emerging maritime threats and strengthening security across Africa’s maritime domain.
