TWO YEARS OF VICE ADMIRAL OGALLA AS CNS

…MAKING COUNT WITH ARREST OF 76 VESSELS, 242 SUSPECTS, CREATION OF NEW COMMANDS

The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla has made tremendous impact in the last 24 months in office with robust anti-piracy and sea robbery operations, anti-oil theft operations and anti-smuggling operations, joint operations as well as Fleet Re-capitalisation and establishment of new bases.

In a statement by the Director of Information (DINFO), Nigerian Navy, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu said the CNS has also facilitated the hydrographic operations and Regional/International cooperation to meet present realities in the global fight against maritime crimes.

Vice Admiral Ogalla took over office on the 23rd June 2023, from his predecessor, Vice Admiral Awuul Gambo, having being appointed by the President Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR on 19 June 2023.

The NN has maintained credible presence at sea, resulting in significant reduction in sea robbery incidents while ensuring that no piracy incident occurred in Nigeria’s waters since 3 March 2022, after the country’s exit from the list of piracy – prone countries as ratified by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB).

In January 2024, the CNS Vice Admiral EI Ogalla launched Operation DELTA SANITY to fight Crude Oil theft and in December 2024 he rejigged the operations with integration of aerial surveillance and improved intelligence to achieve better results.

This has led to the arrest of 76 vessels and 242 suspects, while over 808 illegal refining sites with 2,411 dug out pits and 5,421 storage facilities were deactivated. Additionally, 58 arms, 276 ammunition, 101 speedboats, 59 pumping machines, 38 outboard engines, and several other equipment were seized from criminal elements.

The effectiveness of NN anti-Crude Oil theft operations in the past two years has resulted in high percentages of terminal factors recorded along the Trans-Niger, Trans Escravos and Trans Forcados pipelines by as much as 98 – 100 per cent since the third quarter of 2024, thereby contributing significantly to increase in Nigeria’s Crude Oil output.

Today, the Nigerian Navy is at its highest state of operational readiness and ranks as the 3rd largest Navy in Africa only behind Egypt and Algeria.

Other notable achievements of Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla as Chief of the Naval Staff include:

1. Construction of Administrative Block at Naval Base Lake Chad Baga Maiduguri, Borno State.
2. Construction of Jetty at Bonny Rivers State – Ongoing.
3. Development of Special Boat Service Camp Lagos.
4. Construction of Maritime Operations & Coordination Centre at Forward Operating Base TAKWA BAY, Lagos.
5. Commissioning of Naval Training Command Headquarters at Ebubu-Eleme Port Harcourt.
6. Renovation of various Projects at Nigerian Naval College Ebubu-Eleme Port Harcourt.
7. Establishment Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) MADUEKE.
8. Establishment of NN Special Operations Command.
9. Establishment of NN Marines.
10. Establishment/Inauguration of the International Maritime Institute of Nigeria (IMION).
11. Construction of Worship Centers at Navy Town Asokoro Abuja.
12. Construction of Parade Ground, Pavilion, Officers’ Mess and Ratings’ Accommodation at Ebubu-Eleme Port Harcourt.
13. Construction of 10 x 1 Bedroom Accommodation at Naval Institute of Technology Sapele.
14. Construction of Blocks of 16 x 2 Bedroom Flats for Officers and Ratings at Naval Base Chad Baga Site, Borno State.
15. Construction of Blocks of 16 x 2 Bedroom Flats at Navy Town, Asokoro Abuja.
16. Construction of 24 x 1 Accommodation at Navy Town Asokoro – Ongoing.
17. Construction of Blocks of 24 x 1 Accommodation for Senior Rates at Headquarters Central Naval Command, Yenagoa – Ongoing.
18. Construction of Drainages and Internal Roads at Nigerian Navy Estate Bayelsa Palm Avenue Yenagoa.
19. Construction of 8 x 2 Bedroom Accommodation at Nigerian Navy Secondary School Umuopu in Enugu State – Ongoing.
20. Developmental Projects in Navy Town Ojo, Lagos as follows:

a. Construction of Type A and B (24 x 1) ratings Accommodations in Navy Town Ojo, Lagos.

b. Upgrade and Extension of Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital Navy Town, Ojo Lagos.

c. Construction of 16 x 2Bedroom Flats for Senior Rate at Navy Town, Ojo Lagos.

d. Construction of Block of 8 x 8 Bedroom Flats at Navy Town, Ojo Lagos.

21. Construction of 24 x 1 Bedroom Flat at Ecomog – Ongoing.
22. Construction of Ratings’ Arrival Hall at HQ CNC – Ongoing.
23. Construction of 10 x 1 Officers’’ Accommodation at HQ CNC – Ongoing.
24. Construction of 16 x 2 Senior Rates’ Accommodation at HQ CNC – Ongoing.
25. Construction of 24 x 1 Ratings’ Accommodation at HQ CNC – Ongoing.
26. Reconstruction of Base Flat at NNS BEECROFT Apapa, Lagos.
27. Construction of Seaward Defence Boats 4 and 5 at Naval Dockyard Limited Lagos – Ongoing.
28. The construction of 5 units of A&B officers quarters in Tamandu Barracks.
29. The construction of new Central Pay Office Complex – ongoing.
30. Acquisition of NNS SHERE, NNS FARO and NNS IKOGOSI.
31. Acquisition of 3 x Agusta Westland 109 Trekker Helicopters.
32. Operationalisation of Combined Maritime Defence Force.
33. Operationalisation of NN Sealift Capability (NNS KADA) for the African Union
34. Improved personnel welfare…and many more…

All these are a testament to Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla’s commitment to shaping the NN into a professionally competent and ethical naval force while leveraging on all elements of national power for the effective defence of Nigeria’s maritime area of interest against all form of threat in fulfilment of national security imperatives.

Happy Anniversary to the CNS and NN family.

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