Tag: Navy

The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abubakar Mustapha, has called for stronger collaboration among security agencies to address evolving maritime threats, while commending personnel for their achievements this year. 

Mustapha spoke at the Western Naval Command Cocktail and Dinner 2025 held at the Nigerian Navy Ship BEECROFT officers’ mess in Apapa, Lagos. 

He said the sustained cooperation with sister services, other government agencies and international partners was critical to safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime domain.

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According to him, the command’s successes in 2025 were driven by professionalism and teamwork, noting that maritime security depends on unity of purpose rather than individual effort. He urged personnel to remain committed and optimistic as the command prepares for 2026.

The FOC thanked the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, for his support to the command, acknowledging the role of families in sustaining professional conduct.

Also speaking, the Admiral Superintendent, Naval Dockyard Ltd., Rear Admiral Ibrahim Shehu, said the CNS’s strategic guidance contributed to the Nigerian Navy’s achievements in the Lagos area. He said the dinner provided an opportunity to review gains in 2025 and plan for improved outcomes in the coming year.

Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, on Monday, charged personnel to prepare for war as the service commenced its annual sea inspection exercise codenamed ERU OBODO. 

Abbas gave the charge in light of recent coup attempts in the Republic of Benin and other threats to regional security. 

Noting that war is prepared for in peacetime, the CSN who flagged off the sea exercise onboard NNS KADA in Lagos, directed that platforms and personnel must be pushed to their limits to expose gaps and strengthen operational readiness. 

He said the three-day exercise was central to evaluating fleet capabilities, enhancing patrol efficiency, and improving the Navy’s capacity to secure Nigeria’s maritime environment and the Gulf of Guinea (GoG).

Abbas said the exercise, coincidentally held amid recent security developments in the Benin Republic, would provide a realistic platform to test ships, aircraft, special forces, and support units in fleet manoeuvres, gunnery, anti-piracy, oil theft interdiction, search and rescue, and visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) operations. 

Reiterating the Navy’s role as a stabilising force in the GoG region, Abbas said the service was prepared to undertake any mission assigned by the President and Commander-in-Chief, adding that exercises such as EX ERU OBODO reinforce institutional capacity to defend national and regional maritime interests.

He said, “Okay, this exercise is an annual exercise, and it is a good coincidence that this is happening at this time. Like I said in my address, part of our responsibility is to ensure the safety of our own maritime environment and that of the Gulf of Guinea, to which the Benin Republic falls within.

“We are ever ready to go wherever we are asked to go by the President and Commander-in-Chief. This will also give us the opportunity to practice the fleet properly, and basically the main reason for this annual exercise is for me to be able to assess the operational capabilities of the Nigerian Navy to identify gaps that need to be filled.”

Abbas said the Navy will continue to demonstrate resolve to secure offshore economic assets and deter threats to national security.

In his remarks, Officer Conducting the Exercise (OCE), Rear Admiral MB Katagum, said the drills would test tactical manoeuvre, command and control, logistics sustainability, and mission execution in line with the CNS’ strategic directives. 

He urged commanders and personnel to maintain vigilance, adhere to doctrines and safety procedures, and show initiative reflecting a modern, agile, and combat-ready force.

Similarly, the Officer in Tactical Command (OTC), Rear Admiral Abdullahi Mustapha, said the exercise would consolidate activities conducted throughout the year, enabling operational assessment of the fleet. 

He said the exercise will simulate evolving maritime threats, including piracy, sea robbery, crude oil theft, illegal trafficking, and unregulated fishing, using a combination of surface platforms, air assets, and Special Forces in coordinated interdiction missions.

Mustapha said participating units will undertake anti-piracy and anti-trafficking drills, fleet manoeuvres, emergency drills, and counter-smuggling operations to demonstrate preparedness, interoperability, and doctrinal proficiency. 

He noted that the exercise was expected to strengthen fleet readiness, enhance deterrence, and improve the Navy’s response to maritime crimes.

The Nigerian Navy has approved the promotion of 127 senior officers to their next ranks.

According to a statement by the Naval spokesperson, Commodore Aliu-Adams, 15 Commodores were promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral, 31 Captains to the rank of Commodore, and 81 Commanders to the rank of Captain.

Those promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral are: Olumide Olajide Fadahunsi, Patrick Emuebie Meteke, Ponfa Paul Nimmyel, Sulieman Wale Olorundare, Johnson Adekunle Adewoyin, Cajethan Nnabuchi Aniaku, Anthony Victor Kujoh, Abdulrahman Mohammed, Chinonyerem Emmanuel Oji, Adamu Yahaya, Chindo Usman Yahaya, Aminu Abdullahi, Orakwue Dennis Nnatu, Usman Garba Bala, and Samuel Anwuli Ogwu.

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Those promoted to the rank of Commodores are: Solomon Olushola Ohunenese, Mahmud Abubakar Fana, Taofiq Migdad Gidado, Mahmoud Hamman Hammanyero, Aliyu Gagidiba Abdullahi, Suleiman Gachi Muhammed, Abubakar Umar Sani, Mohammed Ali Kolo, Murtala Tafida Sulieman, Emmanuel Tamunosiki Fingesi, Suleiman Musa Abdullahi, Mustapha Tagoje Abdullahi, Olanrewaju Bejide Animasahun, Owens Ediale Adams Izilien, Olabode Teniola, Chris Chijioke Ali, Kabir Oladele Olanrewaju, Uzezi Egweh, Charles Eyo Iso, Elisha Bawa, Olumide Omololu Faneye, Oscar Chukwunonso Mbanu, Henry Ebute Ejeh, Galadima Mohammed Ciroma, Osuolale Ayotunde Eyitayo, Emmanuel Ajah Onu, Abubakar Ozovehe Aliyu, Ahmadu Shehu Mohammed, Ogbeche Richard Ochagu, Anastasia Nkechi Ossai, and Feyisara Medinat Solebo.

However, the statement didn’t reveal the names of those promoted to the rank of Captain, but stated that the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, had congratulated the newly promoted senior officers and their families.

The Naval Chief charged them to “rededicate themselves to their responsibilities and remain loyal to the nation and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.” 

The Western Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy has launched Exercise OMI-AILEWU 2025 at NNS KADA, Apapa, an intensive maritime readiness operation aimed at strengthening security across Nigeria’s territorial waters and enhancing the nation’s capacity to leverage its blue economy.

Speaking at the ceremony, Rear Admiral Abdullahi Mustafa, Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, delivered his first major operational address since assuming office.

He described Nigeria’s maritime environment as “the lifeblood of our nation’s economy, the medium for global trade, and the first line of our national defence.”

He said that Nigeria’s 220-nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zone remains threatened by persistent criminal activities such as piracy, crude oil theft, unregulated fishing, maritime terrorism, pollution, arms smuggling, and trafficking.

He emphasized that the adversaries “are adaptive, ruthless, daring, and operate in the dark,” underscoring the Navy’s need to remain proactive rather than merely reactive.

“Over the next two days, the exercise will test officers and men on real-time maritime interdiction drills, anti-smuggling and anti-narcotics operations, boarding exercises, and protection of critical national infrastructure at sea,” he said.

The Command also noted that EX OMI-AILEWU serves as a preparatory phase ahead of the CNS annual sea inspection in two weeks, Nigeria’s highest-level naval evaluation exercise.

Mustafa further explained the meaning and relevance of the exercise:

“Omi Ailewu is a Yoruba phrase meaning calm or safe waters. The essence aligns with the President’s blue economy vision and strategy for economic diversification.”

He stated that the Navy has already begun related security efforts with Exercise Safe Ember, which deploys ships under enhanced surveillance to counter holiday-season maritime threats.

“The Navy is leveraging advanced monitoring technology, including onboard sensors and the Falcon Eye system, which allows officers to monitor and intercept suspicious vessels far beyond the ship’s visible horizon,” he said.

He added that Nigerians should expect safer waterways during the festive season.

“Our operations are designed to detect, deter, disrupt, and deny any criminal activity across our maritime domain,” he said.

The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) of the Western Naval Command (WNC), Rear Admiral Abubakar Mustapha, has said his team will ensure impregnable security across the country’s western waters to boost commerce and industry.

He specifically pledged to lead robust intelligence and technology-driven operations that would out-maneuver criminals.

He urged his unit commanders to use their initiative to deliver results.

Mustapha spoke after assuming office as the 46th FOC of the command in Apapa, Lagos State.

According to him, under his watch, the WNC will align with the strategic directive of the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, and the navy’s core values.

The FOC promised to focus on professional excellence, operational efficiency, unwavering discipline, personnel welfare and teamwork.

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“Furthermore, one of my core priorities is to establish a robust technology-driven and intelligence-driven operation to protect the entire maritime space in order to deter, deny, and disrupt all criminal activities. I expect my sub-unit commanders to use their initiative to outmanoeuver and out-compete any criminal in our waterways,” he said.

Mustapha also promised that the command would maintain a robust presence in the entire area of responsibility of the command “in order to provide impregnable security and promote economic prosperity in line with Nigeria’s blue economy aspiration”.

He added: “We will align our capabilities and training to counter persistent and emerging threats in our maritime space. We will operate with confidence in collaboration with the sister services, other security agencies and relevant stakeholders to achieve the mandate of the command.”

“My intention is to establish a robust technology and intelligence-driven naval presence across Western Naval Command AOR to detect, deter, disrupt, and deny any criminal activity. I, therefore, expect all sub-unit commanders to demonstrate initiative, innovation, and creativity to seize and maintain operational initiative.”

Mustapha hailed his predecessor, Rear Admiral Michael Oamen (retd.), for serving meritoriously with several unparalleled achievements, commitment to upholding and building on the legacies.

Oamen had told Mustapha that he felt fulfilled to have exited the service of the Nigerian military after 32 years as FOC of the navy’s premier command.

“I think for these 12 months, we have ensured that the western flank of our maritime domain has remained very safe for all legitimate maritime activities to strive after the well-being of our national economy, and we should be very proud of that.

“Together, we strengthened the operational readiness of the Western Naval Command. We improved the welfare and training of our officers and ratings. We upheld the highest standards of discipline and service. Most importantly, we ensured that the core values of professionalism, integrity, and teamwork remained at the heart of our activities.

“As I hand over the command today, I do so with complete confidence in my successor: a trusted officer, a leader of integrity, and someone fully prepared to take this command to even greater heights. I ask that you give him the same loyalty, excellence, and teamwork you have given me…” he said.

The Nation reports that under Oamen’s watch, the command conducted over 850-armed escort missions to ensure the safe movement of petroleum products and other cargo crucial to Nigeria’s economy; intercepted 6,000 bags of smuggled rice, 30,000 litres of illegal petroleum products, and 193 packs of narcotics.

It also dismantled over 20 illegal refineries, rescued 31 human trafficking victims, and recovered 51 stowaways, thereby curbing smuggling, crude oil theft, and other maritime crimes.

In terms of infrastructure and welfare, 89 projects were initiated or completed, including accommodations, administrative buildings and school upgrades. The command also acquired 10 acres of land in Epe for a small-arms range to enhance training and readiness.

The highpoint of the event was the valedictory parade and pulling out ceremony in honour of Oamen.