Nigerian Navy builds five indigenous vessels, expands shipyard capacity

The Nigerian Navy has intensified efforts to deepen indigenous shipbuilding capacity, revealing that it has constructed five locally built vessels since 2010, while additional defence boats and a ferry are currently under construction in Lagos and Port Harcourt.

Akinola Olatunde, Chief of Policy and Plans, disclosed this on Thursday during a press briefing in Abuja ahead of activities lined up for the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary celebrations.

Olatunde, who represented Idi Abbas, Chief of Naval Staff, said the Navy had evolved significantly from inheriting a few crafts at independence to emerging as the strongest naval fleet in Africa.

According to him, one of the Navy’s most notable achievements over the decades has been the development of indigenous shipbuilding capability.

“Furthermore, the Navy has embarked on shipbuilding and has constructed five vessels since 2010. These include a ferry, a dockboat and three seaward defence boats,” he said.

He explained that ongoing shipbuilding projects were currently being executed by indigenous naval shipyards located in Lagos and Port Harcourt.

“Presently, the Naval Shipyard Limited in Port Harcourt is constructing a 27-metre ferry for the Akwa Ibom State Government, while the Naval Dockyard Limited in Lagos is constructing two seaward defence boats of 44.2 metres in length,” he stated.

The senior naval officer also revealed that the Navy’s technical expertise had expanded beyond Nigeria’s shores, with the Naval Dockyard Limited already handling the refitting of warships for neighbouring countries.

“It might also interest you that the Naval Dockyard Limited refitted three warships for the Benin Republic Navy between 2024 and 2025 and is presently refitting three more for the Benin Republic Navy,” he added.

Olatunde described local shipbuilding as a major source of national pride, noting that the Navy had moved from dependence on inherited vessels to building and maintaining its own platforms.

“The aspect of shipbuilding is something that we should be proud of as Nigerians, for the fact that we can build our ships,” he said.

He recalled that at independence, the Navy inherited only 11 crafts from the Royal Navy and operated with approximately 250 personnel.

“Today we are over 34,000 and, as you already know, having the strongest fleet in Africa. So looking back from the humble beginning to where we are now, 70 years down the line, from inheriting crafts from the Royal Navy to now being able to build yours and having five and still counting with two more still being built, I think shipbuilding is one of those top things for us,” he said.

He further disclosed that the Navy’s locally built vessels would play a prominent role during the forthcoming International Fleet Review scheduled for June 1 at the Eco Atlantic Waterfront in Lagos.

“If you recall, during the presidential fleet review that we had in 2023, those three indigenously built vessels were the ones leading the entire review. And it was something worthwhile to watch,” he noted.

Olatunde said the 70th anniversary celebrations would culminate in the inauguration of three vessels by President Bola Tinubu.

Providing details of activities lined up for the anniversary, he said the celebrations would formally commence on May 23, 2026, with special Jumu’ah prayers across all naval formations nationwide.

He disclosed that on May 25, the Navy would organise a sea experience exercise for selected civilians, chosen through an online draw from more than 14,000 applicants.

According to him, participants would be drawn from Lagos, Warri, Otueke and Calabar as part of efforts to strengthen civil-military relations and expose Nigerians to naval operations.

He added that commissioning activities would hold across several naval units on May 26, while Children’s Day celebrations on May 27 would feature community outreach programmes focused on children nationwide.