The origin of the Nigerian Navy could be traced to the Marine Department of the Royal Navy established in 1887 as a quasi-military organization, which combined the duties of the present-day Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority and the Nigerian Navy. Elements of the Marine Department took part in military operations against the Germans in Cameroun during the First World War between 1914–1918. However, the colonial administration did not consider it necessary to establish a proper navy, as they believed that it was the duty of the Royal Navy to give naval protection to Nigeria. Also, the Marine Department was considered adequate to look after security of the ports and coastal approaches and provide harbour services for Royal Navy ships on West African patrols. This was the situation until the end of the Second World War in 1945.
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Vice Admiral I. Abbas emphasized ethical leadership, professionalism, and discipline, urging officers to uphold the Navy’s vision of a modern, agile force committed to securing Nigeria’s maritime domain.
A delegation from the Egyptian Navy Special Forces Brigade was hosted at Naval Dockyard Limited (NDL), Lagos, for detailed briefings on depot maintenance, ship design and construction, as part of a reciprocal cross-attachment programme with the Nigerian Navy.
Spanish offshore patrol vessel BAM FUROR visited the Western Naval Command, Apapa, under the EU's Coordinated Maritime Presences (CMP) mission. Spanish Ambassador Félix Costales highlighted Middle East shipping disruptions driving global rerouting through the Gulf of Guinea, underscoring the region's growing strategic importance.
The Nigerian Navy conducted a Live-Fire Range Classification Exercise at the NNS BEECROFT Pistol Range, Lagos, assessing marksmanship proficiency and weapon-handling skills of personnel as part of the service's Small Arms Firing Exercise (SAFEX) programme — a key component of the Navy's annual training calendar.
The Nigerian Navy strengthened its academic partnership with Bayero University Kano (BUK) to advance logistics training and education for naval personnel. The visit was led by Commodore AA Madawaki, who presented a commemorative plaque to the BUK Vice-Chancellor as a symbol of the growing institutional collaboration between the Nigerian Navy and the university.
The Joint Task Force South-South, Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), intercepted three vessels laden with suspected stolen crude oil valued at over N4.2 billion in Calabar. Commander Rear Admiral Olugbenga Oladipo announced the breakthrough at a press briefing at NNS VICTORY jetty.
To Lead with unwavering intergrity and purposeful resolve; enforcing discipline, merit and accountability as the bed rock of professionalism, while Promoting Personnel welfare and inspiring a mission-ready force dedicated to excellence and service to the nation.
To develop a modern, agile and professional naval force dedicated to securing Nigeria's maritime interests and advancing national security objectives in synergy with other security agencies.
To deploy a highly motivated and professional naval force capable of safeguarding Nigeria's maritime interests and contributing effectively to joint operations in defence of national sovereignty and maintenance of internal stability.