Navy @70: Tinubu to Commission 3 Vessels, Unveil Gulf of Guinea Task Force
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to commission three naval vessels and inaugurate a multinational maritime security task force for the Gulf of Guinea as part of activities marking the 70th anniversary of the Nigerian Navy.
The Chief of Policy and Plans, Rear Admiral Akintola Olutunde Olutunde, disclosed this on Thursday during an international press briefing at the Naval Headquarters, Abuja, where he outlined activities lined up for the Navy’s platinum jubilee celebration.
Olutunde said the President would preside over the International Fleet Review scheduled for June 1, 2026, at the Eko Atlantic Waterfront in Lagos, where he would also present new colours to the Nigerian Navy and formally inaugurate the Combined Maritime Task Force for the Gulf of Guinea under the African Union Peace and Security Council.
According to him, the regional maritime force will comprise Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone and The Gambia, in what security experts believe could strengthen joint responses to maritime crimes, piracy and illegal activities in one of the world’s most strategic shipping corridors.
The naval chief said the initiative reflects Nigeria’s growing leadership role in regional maritime security amid increasing calls for stronger collaboration among Gulf of Guinea nations to combat transnational threats at sea.
He further disclosed that foreign naval vessels from countries including Benin Republic, Brazil, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana are expected to participate in the anniversary celebrations, while naval chiefs from 15 African countries and representatives of international organisations would also attend.
The anniversary celebration, which commenced this week, will culminate on June 4, with activities spread across Lagos and naval formations nationwide.
Olutunde described the Navy’s 70th anniversary as a significant milestone, noting that the service had transformed from a modest coastal defence outfit into one of Africa’s leading maritime security institutions.
He said, “The Nigerian Navy has evolved significantly from its humble beginnings into a strategic maritime force contributing to national security, regional stability and international peace support operations.”
Tracing the history of the service, he explained that the Nigerian Navy was established on June 1, 1956, as the Naval Defence Force with 250 personnel and 11 vessels inherited from the colonial Marine Department of the Royal Navy.
According to him, the force became the Royal Nigerian Navy in 1958 before dropping the “Royal” prefix after Nigeria became a republic in 1963, while the present Nigerian Navy was formally established under Act No. 21 of Parliament in 1964.
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He added that Commodore J.E.A. Wey became the first Nigerian to head the service in 1964 and later retired as a Vice Admiral in 1973.
Beyond ceremonial activities, Olutunde highlighted key operational achievements of the Navy, particularly in maritime security and anti-piracy operations.
He stated that sustained maritime enforcement operations had contributed to Nigeria’s removal from the International Maritime Bureau’s piracy-prone nations list since 2022, a development he said improved maritime safety, trade flow and reduced insurance costs in the Gulf of Guinea.
The Navy also linked its operations in the Niger Delta to improved crude oil production, saying sustained efforts against crude oil theft and illegal refining had helped increase national oil output from about 1.258 million barrels per day in January 2023 to approximately 1.71 million barrels per day as of April 2026.
Olutunde attributed the rise to intensified operations by naval personnel working with other security agencies to dismantle illegal refining sites and disrupt oil theft networks across the region.
The rear admiral also highlighted the Navy’s growing indigenous shipbuilding capacity, revealing that five vessels had been locally constructed since 2010, including a ferry, a tugboat and three seaward defence boats.
He said the Naval Shipyard Limited in Port Harcourt was currently constructing a 27-metre ferry for the Akwa Ibom State Government, while the Naval Dockyard Limited in Lagos was building two 44.2-metre seaward defence boats.
In a further demonstration of regional defence cooperation, he disclosed that the dockyard successfully refitted three warships belonging to the Benin Republic Navy between 2024 and 2025, with additional vessels currently under construction.
Olutunde further noted that the 2026 Global Firepower Report ranked the Nigerian Navy as the strongest naval fleet in Africa, attributing the feat to sustained fleet modernisation and recapitalisation efforts.
As part of activities marking the anniversary, he said the Navy had scheduled nationwide Jumat prayers, interdenominational church services, sporting events, ship commissioning ceremonies and children-focused outreach programmes.
He also revealed that 725 participants selected from over 14,000 applicants would participate in a civilian sea experience programme organised to deepen public understanding of naval operations.
The celebration will also feature the Sixth Sea Power for Africa Symposium scheduled for June 2 to 3 under the theme, “Leveraging Technology for Enhanced Maritime Security in Africa.”
Olutunde reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to becoming a technologically advanced blue-water force capable of protecting Nigeria’s maritime interests and contributing meaningfully to regional and continental security.
By PRNigeria
