The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, on Thursday, January 1, 2026, spent the New Year with Armed Forces personnel deployed to the North-East, during an operational visit to the Headquarters of the Joint Task Force, Operation HADIN KAI, in Maiduguri, and the Naval Base Lake Chad (NBLC) in Baga, Borno State.
The visit was aimed at boosting the morale of troops engaged in counter-terrorism operations across the North-East Theatre.
Director of Information, Navy, Commodore A. Adams-Aliu, in a statement, disclosed that upon arrival at the Headquarters of Operation HADIN KAI in Maiduguri, the CNS was received by the Theatre Commander, Major General A.E. Abubakar, who briefed him on the recent operational gains, prevailing challenges, and plans of the Joint Task Force. The Theatre Commander highlighted the contributions of the land, maritime and air components, noting that sustained joint operations had significantly degraded the capabilities of insurgent groups.
Vice Admiral Abbas commended the Theatre Commander and personnel of Operation HADIN KAI for their commitment and sacrifices, assuring them that efforts were being made to address operational challenges in order to enhance mission effectiveness.
The Naval Chief thereafter proceeded to the Naval Base Lake Chad in Baga, where he was received by the Base Commander, Commodore Peter Gambo Yilme. During the visit, the CNS undertook a boat patrol on Lake Chad, recently cleared by naval forces to restore navigation and stimulate economic activities in the area.
He later shared a New Year meal with officers and men of the Naval Base Lake Chad and the 196 Amphibious Battalion, which is co-located in Baga.
Addressing the troops, Vice Admiral Abbas praised them for their resilience and dedication, noting that deployment to the extreme flank of Nigeria’s North-Eastern border was both challenging and critical to safeguarding the nation’s territorial integrity and securing inland waterways.
The presence of the CNS in the operational theatre on New Year Day was described as a major morale booster for personnel deployed in the region. The visit also aligns with his vision of building a mobile, agile and professional Nigerian Navy capable of securing Nigeria’s maritime domain and advancing national security objectives in synergy with other security agencies.
Speaking during the visit, the CNS, accompanied by the Chief of Operations, Rear Admiral M.B. Katagum, and the Chief of Logistics, Rear Admiral S.H. Abdullahi, reaffirmed the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to denying terrorists the use of Lake Chad waterways through sustained and coordinated operations in collaboration with sister services and other security agencies in the North-East.
The Nigerian Navy reiterated its resolve to continue supporting ongoing counter-terrorism efforts to ensure lasting peace and stability in the region.
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