The Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, MON, this week joined President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and other senior government officials at the 2026 International Fleet Review in Lagos, where the President commended the Nigerian Navy for 70 years of dedicated service to the nation and commissioned three newly acquired naval vessels.
The event, held at the Eko Atlantic Waterfront as part of activities marking the 70th Anniversary of the Nigerian Navy, highlighted the Service’s enduring contributions to maritime security, national defence, and economic stability.
As the supervising Minister responsible for the Nigerian Navy, Dr. Matawalle reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening the operational capabilities of the Service through sustained investments in modern platforms, technology, training, and personnel welfare, in line with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
At the ceremony, President Tinubu commissioned NNS Oloibiri, NNS Mambila, and NNS Gurara, describing the vessels as strategic additions that will further enhance the Navy’s ability to secure Nigeria’s maritime environment and protect critical national assets.
Serving as the Reviewing Officer, the President praised the Nigerian Navy’s achievements in combating piracy, crude oil theft, illegal fishing, maritime smuggling, and other transnational crimes in the Gulf of Guinea.
President Tinubu particularly lauded the Navy’s sustained operations against crude oil theft and maritime criminality, noting that these efforts have contributed significantly to increased oil production, improved government revenues, and strengthened investor confidence in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
“Beyond the maritime domain, I also commend the Nigerian Navy for its contributions to counterterrorism and counterinsurgency operations across the country. The courage and professionalism demonstrated by the Special Boat Service in executing complex missions are truly commendable.
“More so, with the recent induction of the Nigerian Navy Marines into operational theatres, I am confident that even greater successes will be recorded. Indeed, the Nigerian Navy has become an indispensable pillar of both national and regional security,” the President said.
The President further noted that Nigeria’s maritime domain remains a strategic pillar of the national economy and commended the Navy for its steadfast protection of the nation’s territorial waters and maritime resources.
He observed that through the effective deployment of surveillance systems, rapid response mechanisms, and robust enforcement operations, the Navy has successfully eliminated piracy within Nigerian waters and significantly curtailed crude oil theft and other maritime crimes.
According to him, these achievements have strengthened security in coastal communities, increased oil production, and supported broader economic growth.
President Tinubu also acknowledged the Navy’s close collaboration with other security agencies, regional partners, and international allies in making the Gulf of Guinea safer for commercial shipping and maritime activities.
Reaffirming his administration’s support for the Service, the President pledged continued investment in modern naval platforms, advanced technologies, personnel welfare, training, and capacity development to ensure the Navy remains prepared to meet emerging security challenges.
He congratulated the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, officers, ratings, veterans, and families of naval personnel on the historic milestone, urging them to remain steadfast in their service to the nation.
In his remarks, the Chief of Naval Staff attributed many of the Navy’s recent operational successes to the strategic direction of President Tinubu’s administration and the strong policy support provided by the Ministry of Defence under the leadership of the Minister of Defence and the Minister of State for Defence.
Vice Admiral Abbas noted that investments in modern platforms, improved surveillance capabilities, and enhanced inter-agency cooperation have strengthened Nigeria’s maritime security architecture and enabled the Service to intensify operations against piracy, crude oil theft, sea robbery, illegal fishing, and other transnational maritime crimes.
He reaffirmed the loyalty and commitment of officers and ratings to the Constitution and the Commander-in-Chief, pledging that the Nigerian Navy would remain vigilant in defending Nigeria’s maritime domain against all threats.
The International Fleet Review attracted naval delegations from across the Gulf of Guinea and beyond, underscoring Nigeria’s growing leadership role in regional maritime security cooperation.
Among dignitaries in attendance who also joined the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, MON were the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (Rtd); National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Chairman of the Senate Committee on Navy, Senator Gbenga Daniel; Chairman of the House Committee on Navy, Hon. Yusuf Gagdi; Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede; Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Kennedy Aneke; Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu; and Chiefs of Naval Staff from several Gulf of Guinea nations, alongside representatives of friendly foreign navies and former Service Chiefs.
The celebration marked not only seven decades of operational excellence by the Nigerian Navy but also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s determination, through the Ministry of Defence and under the stewardship of President Tinubu, to build a stronger, better-equipped, and more technologically advanced naval force capable of safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime interests for generations to come.
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