Nigerian Navy Capable of Building World-Class Ships, Says Chief of Naval Staff

The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, has affirmed that the Nigerian Navy possesses the local capacity to construct ships that meet international standards.

His comments came during a visit to the Naval Shipyard in Port Harcourt over the weekend, where he inspected ongoing projects at the facility.

Vice Admiral Ogalla highlighted the Navy’s long-standing involvement in local shipbuilding and repairs, revealing that the service had already constructed three standard warships and is currently building two civil defense boats at its dockyard in Lagos.

He emphasised that despite these significant achievements, public awareness of the Navy’s shipbuilding capabilities remains low due to insufficient publicity.

“The Nigerian Navy has been actively engaged in shipbuilding for some time now. We are doing a lot in terms of ship construction and repairs, but unfortunately, the public is not fully aware of it,” Ogalla said. “This lack of awareness is why people often travel abroad to purchase ships, not realizing that we have the capacity to build them locally. We are working to address this knowledge gap.”

Ogalla urged the Navy’s Shipyard and Dockyard to ramp up efforts in promoting their work to the public, stressing that many people are unaware of the Navy’s capabilities due to what he described as “sea blindness.”

During the visit, the Chief of Naval Staff, accompanied by senior naval officers, inspected several ongoing projects at the shipyard, including the administration block, Ibom ferry, slipway, sick bay, and three refurbished boats. He also examined 10 flat-bottom asphalt boats, which are being prepared for Navy operations.

Ogalla concluded by reiterating the importance of raising public awareness about the Navy’s shipbuilding potential, noting that the Navy is gradually overcoming the challenges posed by the lack of visibility.