The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, has reaffirmed his commitment to finishing all ongoing projects inherited from previous naval leadership, as part of broader efforts to strengthen the Nigerian Navy’s operational capacity.
He made this known on Thursday while presenting a paper to participants of Naval Warfare Course 10 at the Naval War College in Calabar.
Speaking on a paper titled Vision and Mission of the CNS, Abbas explained that his agenda is closely aligned with the Nigerian Navy Strategic Plan 2021–2030, with a focus on sustaining reforms and improving overall performance.
He said, “My strategic objectives for the Nigerian Navy are designed to complete ongoing reforms, optimise fleet readiness, and reinforce the Navy’s role as the principal guarantor of maritime security and an enabler of Nigeria’s global economic growth.
Enhance operational readiness and maritime domain awareness, advance fleet recapitalisation and technological innovation, strengthen human capital development and personnel welfare.
“It is also meant to deepen joint-led interagency and regional cooperation, promote the blue economy and regional cooperation, enhance economic security and maritime governance, and institutionalise good command principles and accountability for integration,” he stated.
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Abbas further noted that these goals would be implemented across short-, medium-, and long-term timelines.
Among the priority projects he identified are the completion of the Naval War College’s permanent site, the Naval hotel in Calabar, and the creation of a Naval School of Nursing.
He also highlighted plans to establish the Nigerian Navy Leadership Academy, the Nigerian Navy Cyber Command, and the Nigerian Navy Public Information and Information School.
In his remarks, the Commandant of the Naval War College, Rear Admiral Mohammed Nuye, encouraged course participants to remain receptive to new ideas so they can effectively apply their training in their respective roles.
He disclosed that Course 10 of the Naval Warfare programme comprises 34 participants, including 26 from the Nigerian Navy, as well as one representative each from the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Air Force.
The course also includes four international participants—two from Cameroon, and one each from Ghana and Liberia.