The Nigerian Navy has identified some of its significant hurdles in its 70-year journey, which include technological and scientific development.
This was revealed by Rear Admiral Akinola Olatunde, Chief of Policy and Plans, Naval Headquarters, during an international press briefing in Abuja on Thursday to commemorate the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Responding to journalist questioning, Olatunde remarked that the Navy’s focus has shifted over time from policing to diplomatic and military missions.
The Nigerian Navy has grown from a coastal enforcement force to a powerful tool for national power, regional security, and blue-water status through strategic adaptation and resilience (18+).
According the Nigerian Navy was created on June 1, 1956, as the Naval Defence Force, with 250 officers and troops and 11 ships inherited from the Royal Navy’s former Colonial Marine Department.
The Royal Nigerian Navy was established in 1958, and the word Royal was deleted after Nigeria gained independence in 1963.
The current Nigerian Navy was formally created as a statutory arm of Nigeria’s Armed Forces by Act of Parliament No. 21 of 1964.
The first Nigerian to command the Nigerian Navy in 1964 was Commodore JEA Wey.
He stated that the Navy must improve in cyber security and the growing type of crime, such as persons attempting to transport drugs from other neighbouring nations into Nigeria.
He added, “We also have drones that work on autonomous systems, but on the submarine side, tying it to how threats evolve. Countries estimate their long-term threat. They acquire vessels based on that danger assessment to meet a long-term threat, as well as an urgent or medium-term threat.
“Within Africa, when we assess our vulnerabilities and have our own strategy plan down to 2030, underwater dangers are not one of the priority for the time being, but these are what you consider under net evaluation, where you have to monitor and see how things evolve over time.
“We would have liked to be ahead of the curve in terms of technology, as well as research and development. One of the lessons we gained during the Civil War was that every service, and the armed forces as a whole, should strive to be as self-sufficient as possible when it comes to military production.
“So, when it comes to research and development, we’re not there yet. That is an area in which we would like to improve. Remember, there was a time when the country was denied the opportunity to procure armaments, and we had to rely on other parts of the world, so it’s an aspect that the Nigerian military is looking into to see how we can be self-sufficient, not just in ship production, but also in record systems and other technology-oriented areas.”