The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas (Admiralty Medal), has attended the ninth edition of the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX 2026), held from 19 to 22 January 2026 in Doha, Qatar, as part of efforts to further strengthen the Nigerian Navy’s platform holding and operational capability.
DIMDEX 2026 was conducted under the esteemed patronage of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, and hosted by the Qatar Armed Forces. Recognised as the largest maritime defence and security exhibition in the Middle East, the event brought together global naval leaders, defence manufacturers, and maritime security solution providers.
Speaking in a press statement, the Director of Information, Commodore A. Adams-Aliu, said the Nigerian Navy’s participation at DIMDEX 2026 has opened new opportunities for enhancing the Navy’s platform composition in line with emerging and cutting-edge technologies.
During the four-day exhibition, several visiting warships from partner nations were berthed at Hamad Port and made accessible to dignitaries and visitors. Vice Admiral Abbas engaged extensively with leading maritime industry players on current trends, innovative solutions, and prospects for the acquisition of modern naval platforms, as well as technology transfer aimed at boosting the Nigerian Navy’s indigenous shipbuilding capacity.
The CNS also highlighted the Nigerian Navy’s achievements in local shipbuilding, having successfully constructed five seagoing platforms to date: MV Sauka Lafia (2010), NNS Andoni (2012), NNS Karaduwa (2016), MV Tug Commander Ugwu (2016), and NNS Oji (2021). He noted that expanded technology transfer arrangements would further reposition the Nigerian Navy as a leading warship manufacturer on the African continent.
Additionally, DIMDEX 2026 provided the Nigerian Navy with the opportunity to preview a range of precision-guided munitions suitable for maritime security operations within Nigerian waters, as well as for naval gunfire support.
The participation aligns with the CNS’s strategic vision to “develop a modern, agile and professional naval force dedicated to securing Nigeria’s maritime interests and advancing national security objectives in synergy with other security agencies.”
