The Nigerian Navy will on Saturday, 31 May 2025, commission 3 ships, 3 helicopters, and junior officers’ accommodation at NNS BEECROFT Apapa, Lagos as part of activities to mark its 69th Anniversary Celebrations 2025 "Navy Week" which serves as an opportunity to present a scorecard of the Nigerian Navy’s performance in the service of the nation.
The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, ably represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans, Rear Admiral Ibrahim Abdullahi Dewu, disclosed this during an international Press conference at the Naval Headquarters in Abuja
He said this year’s Navy Week kicked start with the Special Juma’at Prayers,, which will be held on Friday, 23 May 2025 at Mogadishu Cantonment here in Abuja, while the Interdenominational Church Service will hold on Sunday, 25 May 25 at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, Navy Town, Lagos.
Medical Rhapsodies and Naval Officers’ Wives Association Activities will be held simultaneously on Monday, 26 May 2025 in Nigerian Navy host communities across Commands. Thereafter, a Sailing Competition and Boat Race will take place at the Nigerian Navy Sailing Club in Lagos on Wednesday, 28 May 2025.
On that same day, there will be an unveiling of the newly remodelled auditorium of the International Maritime Institute of Nigeria. Recall that the Institute was established during the Navy Week last year as the brainchild of the Chief of Naval Staff.
The International Maritime Institute was conceptualised to be the most veritable platform and think/tank for maritime strategic thinkers, practitioners and foreign allies to share ideas and undertake research in maritime strategic affairs, and since then, the Institute has made some modest achievements.
"On Thursday, 29 May 2025, ships will be open to visitors in all Commands of the Navy. You are hereby enjoined to make an effort to visit any of our ships in Lagos, Warri, Port Harcourt or Calabar. Similarly, the next day, Friday 30 May 2025, designated ships across all Commands will take all our visitors to sea for a few hours during the day.
"Once again, you are invited to go onboard our ships with your family and friends to experience life at sea. On the same day, there will be a Golf Kitty at the Dolphin Golf Club in Navy Town Ojo, Lagos.
"The series of activities marking the Navy Week Celebration this year will be rounded off on Sunday, 1 June 2025, with the Ceremonial Sunset and Dinner at Naval Dockyard Limited, Victoria Island, Lagos," he said
The Nigerian Navy Anniversary Celebration, often referred to as ‘Navy Week’, is an annual event held to commemorate the establishment of the Nigerian Navy as part of the Armed Forces of Nigeria on 1 June 1956.