•Nigerian Navy parade
The Nigerian Navy, yesterday, at the Naval Headquarters, Abuja unveiled activities lined up to kick start its 70th Anniversary celebrations across all Naval units and formations nationwide.
Addressing newsmen at an International Press Briefing, Rear Admiral Akinola Olatunde Olodude, Chief of Policy and Plans, Naval Headquarters Abuja stated that yesterday marked the “official commencement” of a historic, fortnight celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the Nigerian Navy.
These celebrations, he said are scheduled to commence from Thursday, May 21 to Thursday, June 4, 2026, centering in Lagos and across all naval units and formations nationwide, reports Daily Independent.
“As we stand on the threshold of our Platinum Jubilee, this milestone invites us to look backward with profound gratitude to God Almighty at a seventy-year journey that witnessed a modest coastal policing navy, transform into a formidable instrument of national power, regional stability and blue-water prestige.”
According to Rear Admiral Olodude, the Nigerian Navy at 70 years has been a “journey worth celebrating,” consequently, some activities have been lined up as follows:
“Date Thursday, 21 May 2026, International Press Conference. Anniversary Launch, Naval Headquarters, Abuja. Friday, 22 May 2026 Special Juma’at Prayers, Admiralty Estate, Central Mosque, Asokoro & Units Nationwide. Saturday, 23 May 2026, Polo Novelty Match, Air Shooting Novelty Competition, Guards Polo Club, Asokoro, Abuja. Moshood Abiola, Stadium Abuja. Sunday, 24 May 2026, Interdenominational Church Service, Church of Redemption Protestant Church, Asokoro & Units Nationwide. Monday, 25 May 2026, Sea-Trip Experience & Static Fleet Display for visitors Lagos, Port Harcourt, Warri, and Calabar (725 civilians taken to sea across 8 ships). Tuesday, 26 May 2026, Project Commissioning, Children Day & Community Outreach commissioning across all NN Units and formations nationwide.
“Friday, 29 May 2026 Arrival of Friendly Foreign Naval Vessels from the Republic of Benin, Brazil, Cameroon, Cote D’ Ivoire and Ghana Lagos Harbour. Saturday, 30 May 2026 International Sports: Basketball, Volleyball novelty matches and Golf Kitty Naval Dockyard Limited / Navy Town Dolphin Golf Course. Sunday, 31 May 2026, Arrival of Foreign Dignitaries & Welcome Ice Breaker, Heads of African Navies – 15 Head of African Air Force – 1 Head of Non-African Navies -10 Heads of regional mil Command -3 Heads of Int/regional Org – 10 Eko Hotel, Lagos. Monday, 1 June 2026, International Fleet Review, Trooping and Presentation of Colours, Flag-Off Combine Maritime Task Force, Vessel commissioning, International Maritime Exercise, International Exhibition, Gala Night at Eko Atlantic Waterfront, (Reviewed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu).
“Commissioning of NNS MAMBILA, NNS GURARA, NNS OLOIBIRI at Eko Convention Centre. Tuesday 2 – Wednesday 3 June 2026, 6th Seapower for Africa Symposium & Naval Officers’ Wives Association Seminar, International Exhibition Eko Convention Centre, Lagos (Theme: Leveraging Technology for Enhanced Maritime Security in Africa). Thursday, 4 June 2026 Grand Finale: Ceremonial Sunset, Dinner and Awards Night, Naval Dockyard Limited / Eko Convention Centre, Lagos.”
He also noted that, the story of the Nigerian Navy is a chronological testament to institutional resilience and strategic adaptability. According to him, “The Nigerian Navy was established on 1 June 1956 as the then, Naval Defence Force with 250 officers and men as well as 11 ships inherited from the erstwhile Colonial Marine Department of the Royal Navy. Thereafter, it was designated as the Royal Nigerian Navy in 1958 and the prefix Royal was dropped when Nigeria became a republic in 1963.
“The modern-day Nigerian Navy was legally established through the Act of Parliament No 21 of 1964 as a statutory branch of the Armed Forces of Nigeria. Instructively, the first Nigerian to head the Nigerian Navy in 1964 was then Commodore JEA Wey. At that time, his title was Commodore Commanding Nigerian Navy. He later transitioned to the title of Chief of the Naval Staff and left the office in 1973 as Vice Admiral. What began with a restricted mandate and handful of retrofitted craft has matured seventy years later into an elite force, projecting power confidently across the West African sub-region, the Gulf of Guinea, and the vast maritime expanse of sub-Saharan Africa.”
Operationally, Olodude explained that the Nigerian Navy has over the years been involved with sister services in several internal security, Counter Terrorism and Counter Insurgency operations around the Country. Particularly, the Nigerian Navy Special Boat Service has been critical in most of these operations and performed daring raids contributing significantly towards the successes achieved.
Furthermore, in line with the Presidential Directive to boost crude oil production to 3million barrels per day by 2030 with an interim goal of 2.5 million barrels per day by 2027, the Nigerian Navy has been leading in executing anti-crude oil theft and anti-illegal refining operations over the years, in collaboration with sister services and security agencies within the Niger Delta.
According to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, this has led to an increase in average crude oil production from 1.258million barrels per day in January 2023 to a 5-year high of 1.71million barrel per day as at April 2026. To crown the effort of the Federal Government of Nigeria at fleet recapitalization of the Navy, the Global Firepower Report 2026 adjudged the Nigerian Navy as the strongest naval fleet on the African continent.
He assured that, as we look towards the next decade, under the leadership of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abass, the Nigerian Navy recognised that the evolving maritime security challenges demand innovative strategies beyond traditional frameworks.
“Our commitment to becoming a highly digitized and networked blue-water navy is embodied in the upcoming Seapower for Africa Symposium, themed Leveraging Technology for Enhanced Maritime Security in Africa. This transition is underscored by the induction of new patrol vessels like NNS MAMBILA, NNS GURARA, and NNSOLOIBIRI, reflecting our dedication to sustained fleet renewal and indigenous engineering.
“The forthcoming dual-launch of the Combined Maritime Task Force for the Gulf of Guinea and the International Maritime Exercise, highlighted by the personal attendance of our Commander-in-Chief, further establishes the Nigerian Navy’s role as a stabilizing force in the sub-continent. Through the integration of technology with adequately trained manpower, we are prepared to confront asymmetric threats characterized in the Fourth Generation Warfare while preparing for emerging threats of the Fifth Generation Warfare.”
