Naval chief vows to complete abandoned Navy projects, others

The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, has vowed to complete all abandoned projects initiated by his predecessors as part of efforts to boost the operational efficiency of the Nigerian Navy.

Abbas made the declaration during his paper presentation to participants of Naval Warfare Course 10 at the Naval War College in Calabar on Thursday.

In the paper titled Vision and Mission of the CNS, Abbas said his vision and mission align with the objectives of the Nigerian Navy Strategic Plan 2021–2030.

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.

The CNS explained that to achieve these objectives, each line item would be accomplished within short-, medium-, and long-term time frames.

He listed as top priorities the completion of the permanent site for the War College, the Naval hotel in Calabar, and the establishment of a Naval School of Nursing.

He also mentioned the establishment of the Nigerian Navy Leadership Academy, the Nigerian Navy Cyber Command, and the Nigerian Navy Public Information and Information School.

In his address, Rear Admiral Mohammed Nuye, Commandant of the Naval War College, urged participants to remain open-minded to enable them to apply the knowledge gained in their respective offices.

He said Course 10 of the Naval Warfare programme has 34 participants, with the Nigerian Navy accounting for 26, and one each from the Nigerian Army and Air Force.

He added that the course also has four foreign participants, with Cameroon having two, and one each from Ghana and Liberia.