By Emeka Uga Laz
Abuja | October 23, 2026
The Nigerian Navy plans to establish a research institute and research and development (R&D) cells across its commands to develop locally made military technology, reduce operational costs and strengthen its combat capabilities.
The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, disclosed this on Thursday while delivering the keynote address at the Nigerian Navy’s 2026 Research and Development Seminar at the Naval Headquarters in Abuja.
The initiative is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to develop military equipment and systems locally, reduce dependence on imported technology and improve the Navy’s response to emerging security threats.
Abbas said criminal networks were increasingly using technology to evade detection and threaten critical national assets, making improved intelligence gathering, surveillance and efficient deployment of military resources essential.
“The objective is not to simply acquire more technology, but to achieve greater operational effect with the resources available at our disposal,” he said.
Navy Embraces Technology to Improve Maritime Security
The naval chief said technology-enabled maritime surveillance had improved the Navy’s awareness of activities within Nigeria’s maritime domain and helped direct patrols towards identified threats.
According to him, intelligence-led operations had enabled the service to deploy its limited resources more efficiently, reduce fuel and maintenance costs, and improve its operational response.
He added that surveillance of offshore installations and other critical infrastructure had strengthened efforts to tackle crude oil theft and related economic crimes, contributing to a more secure environment for oil production.
Abbas said emerging technologies could further extend surveillance to creeks and adjoining coastal areas, particularly for pipeline monitoring and protection.
He also highlighted the Navy’s progress in indigenous shipbuilding and maintenance through its dockyard and shipyard, describing these efforts as evidence of the service’s growing capacity to develop and sustain operational capabilities locally.
Military Operations Drive Demand for New Technology
Abbas said the increasing deployment of naval personnel, including Marines and Special Forces, in joint counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations had created a greater need for advanced intelligence gathering, unmanned surveillance systems, secure communications and improved battlefield awareness.
He explained that the proposed research institute and command-level R&D cells would help bridge the gap between research and practical military applications by turning promising innovations into equipment and systems for operational use.
The naval chief, however, stressed that developing effective military technology required collaboration among universities, research institutions and indigenous industries.
“Meaningful innovation cannot be achieved through isolated efforts. It requires purposeful collaboration with universities, research institutions, and indigenous industries, with emphasis on developing, testing, and deploying solutions that meet operational needs,” Abbas said.
He urged participants at the seminar to identify specific capability gaps, recommend viable research partnerships and establish practical ways to translate promising innovations into equipment and systems that could be deployed by operational units.
The seminar was themed “Deepening the Application of Emerging Technologies for Operational Effectiveness.”
Abbas said the success of the initiative would be measured by the capabilities developed, resources saved and operational results achieved.
Navy Targets Self-Reliance Through Research and Development
Earlier, the Chief of Transformation and Innovation, Rear Admiral Chijioke Oyenmobi, said the seminar was designed to harness emerging technologies and intensify research efforts in line with the vision of the Chief of the Naval Staff.
He said strengthening local technological capacity was essential to improving operational readiness and achieving greater self-reliance.
Oyenmobi identified unmanned systems, artificial intelligence, advanced sensors and additive manufacturing as emerging technologies reshaping naval operations, fleet maintenance and equipment support.
He noted that the rising cost of imported military platforms and spare parts, alongside lengthy supply lead times, made it increasingly important for the Navy to strengthen domestic research and technological capabilities.
“A navy that depends entirely on others for its technology cannot fully control its own readiness,” he said.
Oyenmobi described research and development as the link between emerging technologies and the Navy’s operational requirements, adding that stronger local capacity could help reduce dependence on external suppliers.
If successfully implemented, the proposed research institute and R&D cells could provide a framework for developing locally relevant military solutions, supporting equipment maintenance and improving the Navy’s ability to respond to Nigeria’s evolving maritime and security challenges.
Source: Nigerian Navy, as reported at its 2026 Research and Development Seminar.
