LOGISTICS COMMAND

In 1956, when the NN was established, the Supply and Secretariat (S&S) Branch was responsible for the logistics functions of the Navy. The Branch then, was able to cope with its functions because NN had a small fleet of ships with 2 bases established during the colonial era. In the 1970s and early 1980s, NN expanded rapidly due to acquisition of more platforms and establishment of new operational bases. This expansion resulted in NN involvement in more complex operations which necessitated the need for a well-developed logistics network.

Consequently, a Logistics Branch was carved out of the S&S Branch and charged with providing logistics support for the NN. The Branch at NHQ level has 5 directorates namely; the Directorates of Armament Supply, Procurement, Projects, Ship Spares and Directorate of Supply. However, this is not exactly the same at the command levels. By 1992, the NN adopted the Corps concept as a way of improving her logistics management system. This led to the creation of 4 corps namely; Fleet Maintenance Corps, Building and Services Engineering Corps, Nigerian Navy Material Supply Corps and Naval Ordinances Corps. However, over time, it became clumsy and needed some form of re-organization.

Thus, in 2002, these Corps less the Fleet Maintenance Corps was merged and renamed Nigerian Navy Logistics Corps vide Nigerian Navy Order (NNO) 02 of 2002. Thereafter, Nigerian Navy Logistics Corps and the Fleet Maintenance Corps were merged by NNO 02 of 2008 on 14 May 2008 to form the present day NN LOGISTICS COMMAND.

The general administration of the Command is under the Flag Officer Commanding who is of Rear Admiral`s rank. The Flag Officer Commanding is directly responsible to the Chief of the Naval Staff on the implementation of logistics policies.

The Command has 4 Depots located in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Sapele and Calabar. The Depots handle materiel and POL supply to the Fleet and Bases. There are 3 Fleet Support Groups (FSGs) namely; FSG (West), FSG (East) and FSG Central in Lagos, Calabar and Warri respectively. There is also a Motor Vehicle Maintenance Group and a Helicopter Support Group (HSG) both located in Lagos. Additionally, there are plans to establish in the near future Work Services Groups (WSG) and an Underway Replenishment Group (URG).

The roles of the Logistics Command as set out in NNO 02 of 2008 are as follows:

1. Executing Nigerian Navy policies for acquisition and maintenance of capital assets.
2. Ensuring the application of naval engineering standards and processes related to maintenance of ships and equipment in the Nigerian Navy.
3. Establishing and monitoring repair and maintenance procedures, schedules and standards including maintenance of ships, aircraft and fixed assets as well as local and foreign refits of ships.
4. Identification of local capabilities in support of maintenance tasks, capital projects and materiel supply.
5. Conducting periodic inspections of all Fleet Maintenance Assets and Logistics Infrastructure.
6. Undertaking Nigerian Navy acquisitions as directed by the Naval Headquarters.
7. Procurement, storage and distribution of technical and naval stores including the establishment and monitoring of naval materiel supply procedures.
8. Monitoring and Assisting Operational Commands in respect of first and second level maintenance and supply activities.
9. Providing Storage and Test Facilities for Petroleum, Oil and Lubricants (POL) as well as all types of lubricants while ensuring the conduct of tests comply with safety regulations.
10. Acquisition, Maintenance and Building of Shore-Based Infrastructure and Equipment in accordance with Nigerian Navy Operational Requirements.
11. Preservation of Obsolete Naval Assets and Equipment for later disposal as may be directed.
12. Carrying out other duties and directives as may be given by the Naval Headquarters.