As part of its 69th anniversary celebrations, the Nigerian Navy has commissioned three warships and three Agusta Westland helicopters into active service to enhance its operational efficiency and maritime security capabilities.
The commissioning ceremony took place at the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT in Apapa, Lagos, and was attended by top military and government officials, including the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, and the Chairman, House Committee on Navy, Yusuf Gagdi.
Speaking at the event, Minister Matawalle described the induction as a strategic move to secure Nigeria’s maritime domain and safeguard its economic interests.
“The sea remains the lifeline of our nation’s economic prosperity. With the addition of these formidable assets, we reaffirm our commitment to protecting Nigeria’s maritime interests and deterring threats such as piracy, oil theft, and illegal fishing,” he said.
He also lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his unwavering support to the Armed Forces, adding that a strong navy is central to national security and economic progress.
The new platforms include three Fast Patrol Boats—NNS SHERE, NNS FARO, and NNS IKOGOSI—and three AW109ST Trekker Helicopters, equipped with advanced surveillance and rapid response systems.
Vice Admiral Ogalla stated that the inducted warships are designed for high endurance operations and will play a vital role in asserting Nigeria’s dominance across its territorial waters.
“These new platforms will significantly boost our maritime domain awareness and capacity to respond swiftly to security threats. Fleet recapitalization remains a core focus, and more assets are expected before the end of the year,” he said.
He announced the Navy’s expectation of additional assets, including two 76-meter High Endurance Offshore Patrol Vessels from Turkey, three 46-meter Fast Patrol Boats from China, and support vessels like Tug Boats.
Also present at the event was the Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, Vice Admiral (rtd.) Kim Pankyu, who revealed that one of the newly inducted vessels was a donation from the Korean Navy—symbolizing deepening bilateral military ties between both nations.
“Nigeria and Korea have enjoyed fruitful cooperation since 1980, not only in politics and economy but also in military training and education exchanges,” he noted.
The Nigerian Navy continues to play a key role in protecting the nation’s blue economy, and with the commissioning of these assets, the service is better positioned to tackle emerging threats in Nigeria’s maritime environment.
By PRNigeria