The Nigerian Navy said it expanded its fleet from just 11 inherited vessels at independence in 1960 to more than 100 warships and boats, underscoring a major military transformation as authorities ramp up efforts to secure the country’s waters and protect maritime trade.
The was revealed on Sunday by the Flag Officer Commanding Naval Training Command, Rear Admiral Ebiobowei Zipele, during an interdenominational church service held in Onne, Rivers State, to commemorate the Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Zipele described the anniversary as a defining moment for the service, saying the Navy had evolved into a formidable maritime force since its establishment in 1956.
According to him, the Navy began operations with only 11 vessels transferred from the British Royal Navy but has since grown into one of Africa’s leading maritime security forces, equipped with more than 100 ships and boats deployed across Nigeria’s territorial waters.
He said the service had continued to strengthen its operational capabilities through the acquisition of additional warships, helicopters and drones aimed at tackling emerging security threats in the maritime domain.
Zipele credited the Navy with significantly eliminating piracy in Nigeria’s waters and across the Gulf of Guinea over the past three years, a development he said had boosted investor confidence and improved commercial activities within the maritime sector.
He noted that the creation of the Navy’s air arm had further enhanced surveillance and rapid-response operations, allowing the service to intensify efforts against criminal activities at sea.
Despite the achievements, Zipele acknowledged that securing Nigeria’s vast maritime territory remained a major challenge requiring broad institutional support and inter-agency collaboration.
“The Nigerian Navy cannot be everywhere at the same time,” he said, stressing that the government had adopted a whole-of-society approach to maritime security.
He identified key partners supporting the Navy’s operations to include the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, the Nigerian Ports Authority, the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigeria Immigration Service and private security outfit Tantita Security Services.
The Navy’s anniversary celebrations come amid growing concerns over maritime crime, oil theft and illegal activities within the Gulf of Guinea, one of the world’s most strategic shipping corridors.