The Nigerian Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla has appreciated the National Assembly for the success achieved by the Navy over the years.
He gave the commendation during the 2025 budget defense session with the House committee on Navy, in Abuja.
He said from a very modest beginning, the Navy can now boast of expansion and acquisition of equipment and assets.
” With our modest background of one small canoe, what you can call a canoe that time, to the stage where we are right now, where we have over fifty capital vessel ships, over ten helicopters as well as several other assets.
Also, we have grown also to expand to four operational commands, one logistics command, training command and several other facilities. So, there has been tremendous achievements. And this is not just because of the efforts of the men and women in uniform in the Nigerian Navy but the continuous support and collaboration of the National Assembly,” Ogalla said.
Personnel costs
He also highlighted funding challenges, noting that the navy received N211.2 billion in 2024, including N42.9 billion for capital expenditure and N132.26 billion for personnel costs.
He therefore appealed for increased overhead funding to fuel platforms, maintain equipment, and improve accommodations.
The House of Representatives Committee on Navy called for increased funding for the Nigerian Navy to strengthen its capacity to secure the nation’s waterways, opposing the establishment of a separate coast guard.
The committee chairman, Mr. Yusuf Gagdi criticised the lack of sufficient funding for the navy and opposed the creation of a new marine agency.
He stated that it would be unwise to do so when the navy is underfunded.
Mr. Gagdi noted that the navy is working hard despite funding constraints and dismissed calls for a coast guard.
He pointed out that the bill proposing its establishment had previously been rejected by his committee after consultations with stakeholders like NIMASA and NPA.
He argued it was irrational to consider forming a new agency when the existing one struggles financially.
Lateefah Ibrahim
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