As part of activities marking the 69th anniversary of the Nigerian Navy, a solemn interdenominational thanksgiving service was held on Sunday at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, Navy Town, Ojo, Lagos. The spiritually uplifting gathering brought together naval personnel, their families, and well-wishers in an atmosphere of gratitude, reflection, and renewed commitment to peace and unity.

The service was officiated by a team of dedicated military clergy including Very Reverend Father (Capt) Richmond Diala, Reverend Father (CDR) JO Ukpogu, Rev. Fr. (Lt CDR) MM Vandu, Rev. Fr. (Lt CDR) J Elises, Rev. Fr. (Lt CDR) BM Benson, Rev. Fr. (Lt CDR) S Kogi, and Rev. Fr. (Lt CDR) ZO Adebayo.

The First Reading was taken by the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Naval Doctrine Command (NAVDOC), while the Responsorial Psalm was led by Lt. OR Ukachukwu-Eke. The Second Reading was delivered by the FOC Western Naval Command (WNC), and the Gospel was proclaimed by Rev. Fr. (Lt CDR) MM Vandu. Rev. Fr. (Lt CDR) BM Benson led the general intercessions, and the service concluded with prayers and benediction by Rev. Fr. (CDR) JO Ukpogu.

In his homily titled *“TOGETHER”*, Rev. Fr. (Capt) Richmond Diala delivered a deeply reflective message, calling for national and institutional introspection.

“This celebration is a call to consciousness,” he declared. “It’s not a new message, but a reminder—a reaffirmation of what we already know. On a day like this, I ask: what has sustained the Nigerian Navy? What has sustained Nigeria as a country? And what will sustain us in the future? The answer is togetherness.”

Fr. Diala emphasized the importance of unity across religious, ethnic, and institutional divides. He recalled past predictions that Nigeria would disintegrate by certain milestones, yet the country remains intact. “Is that not enough for us to thank God?” he asked the congregation, urging all present to embrace gratitude and maintain hope.

“A good Christian can never be a bad soldier,” he added, encouraging service members to remain steadfast in faith while upholding their military responsibilities.

The homilist’s delivery, laced with humor, personal anecdotes, and emotional appeals, drew laughter, reflection, and spontaneous applause from the congregation. He spoke of his years in ministry and the inspiration he has drawn from the resilience of service members and citizens alike. Quoting a Nigerian saying, he reminded the congregation: “If you don’t know who you are, you may never know where you’re going.”

In his remarks, Vice Admiral Ikechukwu Emmanuel Ogalla expressed delight over the progress recorded by the Nigerian Navy and reaffirmed the service’s commitment to repositioning for enhanced maritime security and national development.

He stated: “I’m delighted to make this remarks on this special occasion on the commemoration of the Nigeria Navy 69th Anniversary Celebration. It is through the mercy of God that we all are able to witness this year’s anniversary. Over the years, we have continued to develop the Nigerian Navy in order to reposition ourselves to curb rising security challenges facing our nation and the West African Sub-Region in general.

In line with our strategic plans and objectives, we have focused on capacity building, acquisition of platforms, infrastructural development, and the welfare of our personnel and civilian staff. While this development drive will be sustained towards operational effect, efficiency, and effectiveness of the service, it is imperative that we remain prayerful, steadfast, and focused. It is also important that we remain peace-loving and law-abiding citizens, and abide by the principles that foster unity in our nation.

The Holy Bible, in II Chronicles 7:14, says, ‘If my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, I will forgive their sins and will heal their land.’ As we gather here today, let us pray for Nigeria, let us also pray for the Nigerian Armed Forces and the Nigerian Navy in particular, that the Almighty God will continue to heal our land and grant us the grace to carry out our roles for the good of the people.”

He emphasized that the Navy under his leadership will continue to prioritize welfare and enhance operational efficiency through the acquisition of modern platforms and tools necessary for optimal performance.

“During this anniversary celebration,” he revealed, “we will be commissioning three ships and three helicopters, several works and office blocks. We are also expecting several other platforms to join the fleet within this year. Let me also assure you that under my watch we will strive to mitigate accommodation challenges in the Nigerian Navy, knowing fully well that shelter is one of the basic needs of man.”

Vice Admiral Ogalla further disclosed the establishment of the Station Operational Command in Makurdi and the Nigerian Navy Marine unit to support expeditionary warfare and land-based operations, reflecting the Navy’s adaptive posture to emerging security threats.

“Note that we will continue to improve on our operational strategies to curb criminality in the maritime environment and on land,” he said. “We will also continue on our strategies to assert our duties as a regional sea power for the Gulf of Guinea by ensuring sustained freedom of communication within this region.”

Acknowledging the support of the Federal Government, he stated, “The successes of the Nigerian Navy in terms of acquisition and infrastructural development would not have been possible without the support of Mr. President. On this note, I want to seize this opportunity to thank and appreciate the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, for his unflinching and unrelenting support to the Nigerian Navy. I make bold to say that the President takes issues concerning the Nigerian Navy very passionately to the extent that he has never turned down any of our requests.”

He concluded with a renewed pledge of commitment: “We are committed towards the sustained security of our maritime domain. We will also continue to support land-based operations for national security in support of the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda for economic prosperity and national development of our nation.”

The event was capped with a tour of the newly commissioned projects and a brief reception in the new multi-purpose hall, named in honor of the CNS.

The service also served as a reminder of the Navy’s spiritual foundation and the importance of divine guidance in national security and personal life. As the Nigerian Navy celebrates nearly seven decades of existence, the message of the day was clear: unity, gratitude, and shared responsibility are the anchors for future progress.

The service ended with a rousing chorus of praise and thanksgiving, setting a spiritual tone for the week-long anniversary celebrations.