The Nigerian Navy has reaffirmed its readiness to confront evolving maritime and security threats through advanced technology, trained manpower and strengthened international collaboration as it unveiled activities marking its 70th anniversary celebration.
The Chief of Policy and Plans, Rear Admiral Akinola Olatunde Olodude, disclosed this while briefing journalists on activities lined up for the Nigerian Navy’s 70th Anniversary celebration scheduled to run from May 21 to June 4, 2026, across Lagos and naval formations nationwide.
Admiral Olodude said, “The Navy’s platinum jubilee would showcase its transformation from a modest coastal force into Africa’s leading naval fleet and a key stabilising force in regional maritime security.”
According to him, Navy also declared its preparedness to confront asymmetric threats associated with fourth-generation warfare while positioning itself to address emerging fifth-generation security challenges through technology integration and professional manpower development.
Olodude said that “the celebrations underscore the Navy’s commitment to becoming a highly digitised and networked blue-water force, a vision reflected in the forthcoming Sea Power for Africa Symposium themed “Leveraging Technology for Enhanced Maritime Security in Africa.”
He noted that fleet renewal through the induction of new patrol vessels and indigenous engineering initiatives further demonstrates the Navy’s determination to sustain operational capability.
According to him, the dual launch of the Combined Maritime Task Force for the Gulf of Guinea and the International Maritime Exercise, expected to be attended by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, reinforces Nigeria’s position as a stabilising force within Africa’s maritime domain.
Reflecting on the Navy’s journey, Olodunye described the 70-year milestone as a testament to institutional resilience and strategic adaptability.
He recalled that the Nigerian Navy began on June 1, 1956, as the Naval Defence Force with 250 officers and men and 11 inherited ships before evolving into the Royal Nigerian Navy in 1958 and later becoming a statutory arm of the Armed Forces through Act No. 21 of 1964.
He noted that the first Nigerian Head of the Navy, Commodore J.E.A. Wey, assumed command in 1964 and later became Chief of the Naval Staff, leaving office in 1973 as Vice Admiral.
From its humble beginnings, Olodude said the Navy has developed into an elite force capable of projecting power across the Gulf of Guinea and wider West African maritime space.
The Navy’s strategic relevance, he explained, became evident during the Nigerian Civil War between 1967 and 1970, when it conducted successful maritime blockades, secured vital sea routes and executed amphibious operations that supported national unity.
Beyond national operations, Olodude highlighted the Navy’s contributions to international peacekeeping, including support for United Nations operations in Lebanon during the 1970s and the ECOMOG mission in Liberia, where it provided logistics, naval gunfire support and humanitarian assistance that saved thousands of civilian lives.
On maritime security, he stated that Nigeria has remained off the International Maritime Bureau’s piracy-prone nations list since 2022 due largely to sustained naval operations.
He added that “anti-crude oil theft and anti-illegal refining campaigns conducted with sister agencies have contributed significantly to improved oil production, which rose from 1.258 million barrels per day in January 2023 to 1.71 million barrels per day as of April 2026”.
Olodude further revealed that the 2026 Global Firepower Report ranked the Nigerian Navy as the strongest naval fleet in Africa, a feat he attributed to deliberate fleet recapitalisation efforts by the Federal Government and sustained operational performance.
He outlined anniversary activities to include special prayers, sporting competitions, community outreach, project commissioning and a sea experience programme for 725 civilians selected through an online raffle from over 14,000 applicants.
The celebrations will also feature visits by foreign naval vessels and dignitaries from Africa and beyond, with sporting and diplomatic engagements scheduled in Lagos.
The climax of the anniversary, according to Olodude, will be the June 1 International Fleet Review at the Eko Atlantic Waterfront, where President Tinubu will review naval formations, commission three vessels, NNS Mambila, Gurara and NNS Oloibiri, and flag off the African Union-backed Combined Maritime Task Force for the Gulf of Guinea involving Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Gambia.
He said, “The celebrations will conclude with the Sea Power for Africa Symposium, exhibitions and an awards night recognising distinguished naval and military personnel.”
