…Fresh push targets technology transfer and maritime security gains
The Nigerian Navy has signalled a renewed strategic shift towards strengthening indigenous shipbuilding capacity as part of a broader plan to enhance maritime security and operational readiness.
Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, disclosed this in Abuja during a high level engagement with an international defence delegation, describing the initiative as critical to Nigeria’s long term naval sustainability.
The meeting, held at the Naval Headquarters on April 7, followed a courtesy visit by Amadou Ndongo Thiam and his team, which the naval chief characterised as both timely and strategically significant.
At the heart of the discussions was the urgent need to deepen collaboration with credible partners capable of supporting local content development and accelerating technology transfer within Nigeria’s maritime domain.
The visiting delegation, representing ASELSAN Nigeria, presented a detailed framework for long term cooperation with the Navy, anchored on joint ventures and partnerships with indigenous shipbuilding firms.
They outlined areas of strength including unmanned systems, infrared tracking technologies, integrated combat solutions, and the modernisation of existing naval platforms.
The team also undertook a facility tour of the Naval Dockyard Limited, where ongoing construction of Seaward Defence Boats underscored Nigeria’s growing capacity for local ship production.
Vice Admiral Abbas emphasised that structured collaborations, particularly those driven through government to government arrangements, would ensure transparency, efficiency, and alignment with national security objectives.
He reiterated the Navy’s commitment to partnerships that deliver measurable outcomes, including capacity building, industrial growth, and improved maritime surveillance and response capabilities.
The initiative, according to him, is expected to position the Nigerian Navy to better confront emerging maritime threats while advancing a sustainable defence industrial base rooted in indigenous expertise.