Abbas Takes Command, Declares Zero Tolerance for Maritime Crimes, Plans Fleet Overhaul
Rear Admiral Idi Abbas on Thursday has taken over as the 23rd Chief of Naval Staff, pledging to lead a revitalized Nigerian Navy that will renew its fleet, dominate the seas, and crush maritime crimes with ruthless precision.
Addressing officers and ratings shortly after the ceremonial handover at the Naval Headquarters, Abuja, Abbas declared that the era of complacency was over.
“We will be swift, precise, and uncompromising against any form of maritime criminality,” he vowed. “From oil theft to piracy, illegal fishing to smuggling, our waters will no longer serve as havens for criminal enterprises.”
The new Naval Chief outlined a bold reform agenda anchored on fleet renewal, enhanced coastal surveillance, improved personnel welfare, and stronger inter-agency cooperation across Nigeria’s maritime security architecture.
He said the Navy under his watch would project deterrence, intelligence-driven operations, and rapid response capacity to safeguard the nation’s economic lifeline.
Rear Admiral Abbas’s appointment followed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent military reshuffle aimed at repositioning the Armed Forces for greater efficiency and accountability. The President, in his letter to the Senate, described the appointments as “a decisive step towards securing the nation and restoring public confidence in the military.”
Read Also:
Before his elevation, Abbas served as the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, where he led successful counter-piracy and anti-smuggling operations along the Gulf of Guinea, significantly improving maritime domain awareness and reducing incidents of sea robbery.
“We will not only pursue criminals at sea,” Abbas warned, “but also dismantle the networks that fund and enable them on land. Every barrel of stolen crude, every illegal vessel movement, is an attack on Nigeria’s sovereignty — and we will respond accordingly.”
Outgoing Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, in his farewell remarks, urged officers to extend full loyalty to the new leadership and sustain the Navy’s legacy of discipline and professionalism. “The service must remain united and committed to its constitutional mandate,” he said.
The ceremony featured traditional military protocols, inspection of guards, signing of handover notes, and lowering of flags, symbolising continuity, discipline, and the Navy’s enduring commitment to national defence.
Defence observers also expect the new Chief to expand international cooperation under initiatives such as the Deep Blue Project, Falcon Eye, and the Yaoundé Code of Conduct, strengthening Nigeria’s maritime security posture within the Gulf of Guinea.
“Our mandate is clear, to defend Nigeria’s maritime sovereignty with courage, technology, and total professionalism. We will renew our fleet, reform our systems, and reclaim our seas,” Abbas added.
By PRNigeria
