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Idi Abbas, the newly appointed Chief of Naval Staff, has assumed command of the Nigerian Navy, pledging to intensify the battle against crude oil theft, illegal bunkering, sea robbery and other maritime crimes that continue to drain Nigeria’s economy.
Speaking at the Navy Headquarters on Thursday in Abuja during the official handing-over ceremony, Abbas (Rear Admiral), the 23rd Chief of Naval Staff, said his tenure will prioritise maritime security, fleet renewal, personnel welfare, and inter-agency cooperation to safeguard the nation’s territorial waters and support the growth of the blue economy.
He acknowledged that while the Navy had recorded notable achievements under successive administrations, Nigeria’s maritime domain remains under constant threat from oil thieves, pirates, and criminal networks engaged in illegal fishing and drug trafficking.
“I am not unaware that our maritime environment remains threatened by a scourge of crude oil theft, sea robbery, illegal bunkering, illegal unreported and unregulated fishing, and drug trafficking.
“These crimes not only undermine our national economy and energy security but also threaten the livelihoods of our coastal communities and the economic stability and prosperity of our dear nation”, Abbas said.
To confront these challenges, the naval chief outlined a strategic framework that will drive his leadership of the service.
“The plan includes enhancing fleet capability through aggressive renewal and technology deployment, improving intelligence-led operations, prioritising training and welfare for naval personnel, and strengthening collaboration with local and international partners”, he noted.
He described his appointment as a “privilege and a call to greater service,” expressing gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for the confidence reposed in him to lead the Navy at a critical time for Nigeria’s maritime and economic security.
“It is with humility and gratitude to God that I stand before you today as the 23rd Chief of the Naval Staff. I am eternally grateful to the President Bola Tinubu, for finding me worthy to lead the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
Abbas also paid tribute to his predecessor, Emmanuel Ogalla, whom he described as a visionary leader whose tenure strengthened the Navy’s operational efficiency and strategic presence in Nigerian waters.
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He urged officers and men of the Navy to uphold the service’s core values of integrity, professionalism, and teamwork, assuring them that discipline, accountability, and welfare would remain central to his leadership.
“I promise to lead from the front and ensure that your welfare remains a top priority, vowing that the Navy will “work tirelessly to safeguard the nation’s waters and support the growth of the blue economy”, he added.
Tinubu had last week announced a major shake-up in the Armed Forces, appointing new service chiefs for the Army, Navy, and Air Force, as part of broader efforts to strengthen national security and defence operations.
