BREAKING: COAS Repositions Army, Appoints Senior Officers to Strategic Command and Staff Roles, Brig. Gen Uba Becomes Defence HQ Spokesperson

By Olayemi Esan

In a decisive move that signals renewed vigour in Nigeria’s maritime defence, Rear Admiral Idi Abbas has officially assumed office as the 23rd Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), vowing to lead a revitalized Nigerian Navy poised to dominate the seas, overhaul its fleet, and stamp out maritime criminality with uncompromising precision.

The ceremonial handover, held on Thursday at the Naval Headquarters in Abuja, marked a moment of both reflection and renewal for the service. It followed the recent confirmation of service chiefs by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, part of a broader effort to reposition the Armed Forces for enhanced operational efficiency and accountability.

Addressing officers and ratings shortly after taking command, Rear Admiral Abbas left no doubt about his intentions.

“We will be swift, precise, and uncompromising against any form of maritime criminality,” he declared. “From oil theft to piracy, illegal fishing to smuggling, our waters will no longer serve as havens for criminal enterprises.”

He outlined a comprehensive reform agenda centred on fleet renewal, enhanced coastal surveillance, personnel welfare, and stronger inter-agency cooperation across Nigeria’s maritime security framework. His emphasis on deterrence, intelligence-led operations, and rapid response capacity reflects a strategic pivot towards proactive maritime defence.

Before his appointment, Abbas served as the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, where he spearheaded several high-impact counter-piracy and anti-smuggling operations in the Gulf of Guinea. His tenure saw a marked improvement in maritime domain awareness and a significant decline in incidents of sea robbery—credentials that now shape his approach at the national level.

“We will not only pursue criminals at sea,” he warned, “but also dismantle the networks that fund and enable them on land. Every barrel of stolen crude, every illegal vessel movement, is an attack on Nigeria’s sovereignty — and we will respond accordingly.”

Outgoing Naval Chief, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, in his farewell remarks, commended the officers and men of the Navy for their professionalism and urged them to maintain unwavering loyalty to the new leadership.

“The service must remain united and committed to its constitutional mandate,” he said.

The ceremony was steeped in naval tradition — from the inspection of guards to the signing of handover notes and the lowering of flags — symbolizing a seamless transition of command and the enduring discipline of the Nigerian Navy.

Abbas is expected to deepen international maritime cooperation through frameworks such as the Deep Blue Project, Falcon Eye, and the Yaoundé Code of Conduct, aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s security posture within the Gulf of Guinea.

His strategic focus on technological advancement, fleet modernization, and inter-agency synergy suggests a Navy ready to not only secure Nigeria’s maritime domain but also play a more assertive regional role.

“Our mandate is clear,” Abbas affirmed. “To defend Nigeria’s maritime sovereignty with courage, technology, and total professionalism. We will renew our fleet, reform our systems, and reclaim our seas.”

With Rear Admiral Idi Abbas now at the helm, expectations are high for a more agile, technology-driven, and deterrent Nigerian Navy — one capable of safeguarding the nation’s maritime assets and restoring confidence in Nigeria’s blue economy.