By Nkechi Eze
The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas (Admiralty Medal), has reaffirmed the Nigerian Navy’s determination to strengthen its fleet and advance indigenous shipbuilding capacity as he attended the ninth edition of the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference, DIMDEX 2026, held in Qatar from January 19 to 22, 2026.
The participation of the Nigerian Navy at the high-profile event was disclosed in an official signed statement by the Director of Information, Nigerian Navy, Commodore Adams Aliu. According to the statement, DIMDEX 2026 was held under the esteemed patronage of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, and hosted by the Qatar Armed Forces.
Recognised as the largest exhibition of maritime defence and security innovations in the Middle East region, DIMDEX provided a strategic platform for the Nigerian Navy to explore emerging technologies and modern solutions aimed at improving its platform holdings. The Navy’s presence at the exhibition, the statement noted, has opened new vistas for enhancing its fleet composition in line with cutting-edge technological developments shaping modern naval operations.
During the four-day event, several visiting warships from partner nations were berthed at Hamad Port and made accessible to dignitaries and visitors. Vice Admiral Abbas toured the exhibition and held extensive engagements with leading solution providers and industry experts in the global maritime defence sector. These interactions focused on the latest trends and innovations in naval platforms, with particular emphasis on acquisition options and the transfer of technology to strengthen the Nigerian Navy’s indigenous ship production capacity.
The Director of Information recalled that the Nigerian Navy has already recorded notable milestones in local shipbuilding, having constructed five seagoing platforms domestically. These include MV SAUKA LAFIA commissioned in 2010, NNS ANDONI commissioned in 2012, NNS KARADUWA commissioned in 2016, MV TUG COMMANDER UGWU commissioned in 2016, and NNS OJI commissioned in 2021. He noted that the prospects of enhanced technology transfer arising from engagements at DIMDEX 2026 would further reposition the Nigerian Navy as a leading manufacturer of warships on the African continent.
In addition to platform development, the exhibition afforded the Nigerian Navy the opportunity to preview a range of precision-guided munitions suitable for maritime security operations within Nigerian waters, as well as for naval gunfire support. These capabilities, the statement explained, are critical to improving operational effectiveness in safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime domain against evolving security threats.
The participation of the Chief of the Naval Staff at DIMDEX 2026 aligns with his strategic vision to “develop a modern, agile and professional naval force dedicated to securing Nigeria’s maritime interests and advancing national security objectives in synergy with other security agencies.” The engagements and insights gained from the exhibition are expected to contribute significantly to ongoing efforts to modernise the Nigerian Navy and enhance its capacity to respond effectively to contemporary maritime security challenges.
