…AS VICE ADMIRAL OGALLA HANDS OVER COMMAND
After 34 years of meritorious service to the Nation and two years and five months as the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ikechukwu Emmanuel Ogalla has handed over to his successor, Rear Admiral Idi Abbas.
Rear Admiral Abbas was appointed last Friday as the 23rd CNS. He was confirmed by the Senate on Wednesday, 29th October, 2025 during a plenary session.
The handing and taking over in Abuja today, 30th October at the Naval Headquaters, Admiral Ogalla in his valedictory speech took a nostalgic reflection on his years in the service said “In all things, I find myself fulfilled, having started out with a modest dream of becoming a military officer and ending up as the 22nd indigenous Chief of the Naval Staff.”
He observed that in the last two years and five months as the CNS, the NN made tremendous strides in its operational activities with improvement in the nation’s maritime security.
“We have preserved the sanctity of our maritime space ensuring there was no piracy incident under my watch, following Nigeria’s delisting from the International Maritime Bureau’s Global Piracy Report on 3 March 2022.
“Our anti-crude oil theft/illegal bunkering operations was re-jigged through the introduction of Operation DELTA SANITY in January 2024 and sustained as DELTA SANITY II on 30 December 2024 to build on gains recorded.
Since the launch of the operation, over 800 illegal refining sites and 5,515 storage facilities were deactivated with over 240 suspects and 76 vessels arrested.
He further disclosed that sequel to Presidential Directive, the NN under my watch commenced fiscalization duties in the nation’s major oil and gas export terminal. This measure has supported the efforts of statutory agencies by enhancing transparency in at the terminals resulting in increased oil production which has been acclaimed to be the highest in the last decade.
On Fleet recapitalization and maintenance, in the last 29 months, the Nigerian Navy acquired two survey vessels, 57 riverine boats, seven fast patrol boats, six insurrection patrol crafts, three tugboats, and two capital ships.
In addition, the force acquired five transport helicopters, five logistics barges and 23 unmanned aerial vehicles. Our indigenous shipbuilding effort is progressing well with construction of Seaward Defence Boats 4 and 5 at the Naval Dockyard nearing completion.
Vice Admiral Ogalla, who expressed joy and fulfillment said in area of Infrastructural renewal and development, New Bases and institutions were established in Kaduna, Kano, Kogi, Lagos, Rivers, Benue, Ogun, Niger and Enugu states, among others while significant investment was made in upgrading existing facilities across all commands.
Other projects initiated included accommodations, administrative blocks, jetties, roads and drainages as well as strategic POL storage facilities. These infrastructural enhancements have proved vital improving immediate operational responses and sustaining long term maritime security readiness.
In order to boost the NN capacity to deal with maritime criminals, the establishment of Special Operations Command and Nigerian Navy Marines was finalized and have been functional.
The Naval Chief reiterated that the Nigerian Navy Marine is being trained and equipped to conduct special operations in the littoral and land warfare under the coordination of the Special Operations Command.
Therefore, the first batch of the trainees are expected to graduate from the newly established Nigerian Navy Marines Training Centre in February 2026.
On regional and international cooperation, Vice Admiral Ogalla said the NN was able to strengthened regional and international maritime security collaborative engagements to address transnational organised crimes in the Gulf of Guinea while the NN participated in several multinational exercises with foreign navies such as exercises OBANGAME EXPRESS, GRAND AFRICA NEMO and FLINTLOCK.
He commended officers and ratings who stood solidly behind him to make these gamut of successes. “All these successes belong to every one of you, the officers who planned with precision, the ratings who executed with discipline, and the civilian workforce whose support remains invaluable. You are the custodians of the honour and legacy of our Navy.”
To the families -NOWA members – he commended them for the significant progress made in developing NOWA schools and related centres that serve the educational and welfare needs of our wards.
Vice Admiral Ogalla used the opportunity to solicit for mutual cooperation with the new CNS, Rear Admiral Abbas, remain loyal to the Constitution, the President and Commander-in-Chief, and to all constituted authorities of our democracy.
Rear Admiral Abbas, has become the 23rd Indigenous Chief of Naval Staff of the Nigerian Navy.
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