The newly appointed Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Idi Abbas has assumed office with a firm pledge to intensify the fight against crude oil theft, illegal bunkering, and other maritime crimes undermining Nigeria’s economic stability.
Speaking at the Navy Headquarters in Abuja during the handing-over ceremony on Thursday, the 23rd Chief of Naval Staff acknowledged that despite notable achievements, Nigeria’s maritime environment remains threatened by crude oil theft, sea robbery, illegal fishing, drug trafficking and other maritime crimes that jeopardise national security and economic prosperity.
To address the challenges, he unveiled strategic priorities for his tenure, including improving maritime security, enhancing fleet capability through aggressive fleet renewal and increased use of technology, prioritising personnel training and welfare, and strengthening collaboration with other security agencies.
Rear Admiral Abbas said, “I am not unaware that our maritime environment remains threatened by a scourge of crude oil theft, sea robbery, illegal bunkering, illegal unreported and unreported fishing and drug trafficking.
“These crimes not only undermine our national economy and energy security, but also threaten the livelihoods of our coastal communities and the economic stability and prosperity of our dear nation.
“To confront these challenges decisively, my tenure will be guided by a clear and actionable strategic approach, focusing on strengthening maritime security and combating illegalities, enhancing the operational capability of our fleet through aggressive fleet renewal use of technology, prioritizing training and personnel welfare, as well as fostering inter-agency synergy, regional and international collaboration.”
He described his appointment as a privilege and vowed to discharge his duties with dedication, integrity and loyalty to the nation.
“It is with humility and gratitude to God that I stand before you today as the 23rd Chief of the Naval Staff. I am eternally grateful to the President and Commander-in-Chief, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for finding me worthy to lead the Nigerian Navy,” Rear Admiral Abbas said.
The Naval Chief paid tribute to his predecessor, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, commending him for his “visionary leadership and service,” which he said had laid a solid foundation for continued progress in the Navy.
He charged Naval personnel to uphold the service’s core values of integrity, professionalism and teamwork, stressing that discipline and accountability will remain paramount.
“I promise to lead from the front and ensure that your welfare remains a top priority, assuring Nigerians that the Navy will work tirelessly to safeguard the nation’s waters and support the growth of the blue economy,” Rear Admiral Abbas said.
In his farewell remarks, the outgoing Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, highlighted key achievements recorded during his tenure, noting that the Navy made “significant strides” in securing Nigeria’s maritime domain.
“In the last two years and five months of my command, the Nigerian Navy made significant strides in its operational activities with commendable improvement in the nation’s maritime security,” Ogalla said.
He stated that under his leadership, the service preserved the sanctity of the nation’s waters, adding that there was no piracy incident throughout his tenure. According to him, this followed Nigeria’s removal from the International Maritime Bureau’s Global Piracy Report on March 3, 2022.
Ogalla also disclosed that the anti-crude oil theft and illegal bunkering operations were strengthened through the launch of Operation Delta Sanity in January 2024, which later transitioned to Delta Sanity II on December 30, 2024.
“Since the launch of the operation, over 800 illegal refining sites and 5,515 storage facilities were deactivated, with over 240 suspects and 76 vessels arrested,” he said.
Ogalla sais that, following a presidential directive, the Navy began fiscalisation duties at major oil and gas export terminals, a development he said improved transparency in the sector and contributed to what has now been recorded as the country’s highest oil production level in a decade.
He further listed major improvements in fleet acquisition and maintenance during his leadership.
“I am equally pleased to recall significant progress made in fleet recapitalisation and maintenance. During my tenure, the Navy acquired two survey vessels, 57 riverine boats, seven fast patrol boats, six insurrection patrol crafts, three tugboats and two capital ships,” Ogalla said.
He said that the Navy also acquired five transport helicopters, five logistics barges and 23 unmanned aerial vehicles, while indigenous shipbuilding continued with the construction of Seaward Defence Boats 4 and 5 at the Naval Dockyard nearing completion.
“We equally implemented a comprehensive maintenance programme to ensure that existing assets remain in optimal condition, thereby extending their service life and operational readiness,” he added.
Olusola Akintonde