The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, has commended the Nigerian Navy for its contributions to improving Nigeria's crude oil production, safeguarding critical national assets and strengthening maritime security.
General Oluyede gave the commendation while declaring open the 2026 Chief of the Naval Staff Annual Retreat in Abuja, where he highlighted the Navy's operational efforts in curbing crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and other maritime crimes.
He said the Navy's sustained presence and strategic operations in Nigeria's maritime domain had contributed significantly to improved oil production, which rose from an average of 1.4 million barrels per day in October 2025 to 1.84 million barrels per day as of September 2026.
The Defence Chief noted that the increase had also translated into improved national revenue, with Nigeria's earnings rising from 8.1 billion dollars in the first quarter of 2026 to approximately 9 billion dollars in the second and third quarters.
General Oluyede described the Nigerian Navy's 70 years of service as a testament to its enduring commitment to national security and development, stressing that its role remained critical to protecting Nigeria's vast coastline and advancing the nation's blue economy.
He also applauded the Navy's contributions to joint military operations alongside the Nigerian Army and Nigerian Air Force, particularly in counterterrorism, counterinsurgency and efforts to tackle other forms of criminality.
The Chief of Defence Staff further acknowledged the Navy's role in joint rescue operations, including the rescue of kidnapped students and teachers in Niger State, as well as its contributions to protecting lives and critical national assets.
He described the annual retreat as an important platform for strategic assessment, institutional reflection and the review of operational structures, doctrines and strategies to improve the Navy's effectiveness.
The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, said the retreat provided an opportunity to assess the Navy's performance over the past year, evaluate progress made towards its strategic objectives and establish priorities for the coming year.
Vice Admiral Abbas, who expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for his continued support, said the Navy's Strategic Directive 2026-2027 provided a framework for strengthening operational readiness, fleet capabilities, human capital development, institutional governance and maritime security operations.
He explained that the directive outlined key areas of development, including operations, fleet renewal, infrastructure, logistics, personnel administration, training, technology and interagency cooperation.
The Naval Chief stressed that the retreat must go beyond reviewing activities and resources expended to identifying measurable operational achievements, institutional shortcomings and practical solutions to existing challenges.
He also called for deeper jointness and interoperability among the Armed Forces, particularly in addressing emerging security threats across the country's operational theatres.
With the 2027 general elections approaching, Vice Admiral Abbas emphasised the need for heightened vigilance, operational preparedness and effective interagency coordination to address potential security challenges.
He urged participants to develop realistic priorities, measurable targets and actionable recommendations that would strengthen the Navy's operational effectiveness.
Earlier, the Chief of Policy and Plans, Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral Olatunde Olodude, said the two-day retreat was designed to evaluate the implementation of the Naval Chief's strategic objectives since his assumption of office on October 30, 2025.
He explained that the retreat would assess the performance of various commands, identify operational challenges and develop implementable strategies to improve the service's overall readiness.
Rear Admiral Olodude urged commanders to focus on practical solutions rather than dwelling on challenges, particularly in view of limited resources.
The retreat, themed "Appraisal of Nigerian Navy Commands for Enhanced Operational Effectiveness," brings together senior naval officers and commanders to review the service's performance, strengthen institutional coordination and chart a strategic course for improved maritime security and national development.
