The Global Firepower Report, 2026 has adjudged the Nigerian Navy as the strongest Naval Fleet on the African Continent following sustained efforts be the federal government at fleet recapitalization of the maritime force.
Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abass made the disclosure on Thursday at a media briefing to formally commence activities for its 70th anniversary (platinum jubilee) celebration scheduled to run from May 22 to June 4, 2026.
Detailing the indices and operational breakthroughs that justified the global rating, the CNS said, “Over decades, the Navy has consistently stepped forward as a reckonable force for global, regional and national peace. Notably, during the United Nation’s Mission in Lebanon in the 1970s, the Navy supported the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. It navigated the Mediterranean Sea to deliver vital medical supplies and logistical support to the Nigerian Army peacekeeping forces deployed in Southern Lebanon.
“Additionally, during the ECOMOG Intervention in Liberia from 1990 to 1999, the Nigerian Navy served as the logistical and combat backbone of the entire sub-regional effort. It enforced strict maritime embargoes, provided critical naval gunfire support, and conducted humanitarian operations that saved thousands of civilian lives. It also conducted sealift that safely transported thousands of regional troops and heavy military hardware.
“Likewise, during the ECOMOG Operations in Sierra Leone between 1997 to 2000, the Nigerian Navy played a decisive role in restoring the democratically elected government by enforcing United Nations and ECOWAS maritime embargoes against insurgent forces. It executed vital strategic sealifts, maintained combat patrols, secured Freetown Harbour and ensured the unimpeded supply of humanitarian aid.
“In 2017, the Nigeria Navy participated in the ECOWAS Mission in the Gambia where a regional military stabilization force was deployed. The Navy deployed its Special Forces – Nigerian Navy Special Boat Services and Offshore Patrol Vessel towards ensuring swift peaceful restoration of constitutional governance in the Gambia.
“Equally, the ECOWAS Stabilization Mission in Guinea-Bissau in 2022 provided the Nigerian Navy with another opportunity to successfully project Nigeria’s strategic sealift capability by transporting military battalions, heavy tactical vehicles, and vital hardware to stabilize the Country, following an attempted coup.
“All these contributed to the strategic sealift memorandum of understanding signed between Nigeria and the African Union in 2025 for the Nigerian Navy to provide sealift capacity to aid the African Union with peace keeping, disaster response and personnel movement across the continent.
“Nationally, the Nigerian Navy through its effort has ensured that Nigeria has remained fully delisted from the International Maritime Bureau’s list of piracy prone nations since 2022. This has had attendant benefit for lowering shipping, trade and insurance costs.
“Regarding shipping, the Nigerian Navy Hydrographic Office over the years has facilitated safe navigation in Nigeria’s Maritime environment through charting of various areas such as Lagos harbour, Calabar channel, Igbokoda and Oguta Lake to the Atlantic Ocean among several others
“Furthermore, the Navy has embarked on ship building and has constructed 5 vessels since 2010. These include a ferry, a tug-boat and 3 seaward defence boats. Presently, the Naval Shipyard Limited in Port Harcourt is constructing a 27m ferry for the Akwa Ibom State Government while the Naval Dockyard Limited in Lagos is constructing two Seaward Defence Boats of 44.2m in length.
“Notably, the Naval Dockyard Limited refitted 3 warships for the Beninois Navy between 2024 and 2025 and is presently refitting 3 more for its Navy.
“Operationally, the Nigerian Navy has over the years been involved with sister services in several internal security, Counter Terrorism and Counter Insurgency operations around the Country. Particularly, the Nigerian Navy Special Boat Service has been critical in most of these operations and performed daring raids contributing significantly towards the successes achieved.
Continuing, the CNS said, “In line with the Presidential Directive to boost crude oil production to 3 million barrels per day by 2030 with an interim goal of 2.5 million barrels per day by 2027, the Nigerian Navy has been leading in executing anti-crude oil theft and anti-illegal refining operations over the years, in collaboration with sister services and security agencies within the Niger Delta.
“According to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, this has led to an increase in average crude oil production from 1.258million barrels per day in January 2023 to a 5-year high of 1.71million barrel per day as at April 2026.
