By Nkechi Eze
The Chairman of Chinese Shipbuilding Offshore International Limited (CSOIL), Mr Liu Song, has paid a courtesy visit to the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abass (Admiralty Medal), reaffirming his company’s commitment to sustaining and deepening its longstanding partnership with the Nigerian Navy.
The visit took place on Tuesday, 27 January 2026, at the Naval Headquarters, Abuja, and provided an opportunity for both parties to review the progress of their collaboration in shipbuilding, vessel acquisition and fleet development.
Speaking during the meeting, Mr Liu Song expressed appreciation for the enduring relationship between CSOIL and the Nigerian Navy, noting that the partnership has yielded tangible results over the years, particularly in the delivery of key naval platforms.
He highlighted the company’s pride in contributing to Nigeria’s maritime security architecture and reiterated CSOIL’s readiness to expand its support in line with the Nigerian Navy’s growing operational requirements.
Mr Liu Song further expressed confidence that the collaboration would record even greater milestones in the coming years, especially as the Nigerian Navy pursues its fleet expansion and modernisation agenda.
In his response, the Chief of the Naval Staff commended CSOIL for its consistent support to the Nigerian Navy, with specific reference to the acquisition of Nigerian Navy Ships UNITY and CENTENARY, which have significantly enhanced the Navy’s operational capability.
Vice Admiral Abass welcomed the CSOIL delegation to Nigeria and assured them of the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with the company.
He noted that the partnership aligns with his vision of building a modern, agile and professional naval force capable of effectively safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime interests and contributing meaningfully to the attainment of national security objectives.
The CNS emphasised that strategic partnerships with reputable international shipbuilders remain critical to the Nigerian Navy’s efforts at acquiring technologically advanced platforms, improving operational readiness and responding effectively to emerging maritime threats.
The visit underscored the strong bilateral relationship between the Nigerian Navy and CSOIL and reflected a shared commitment to advancing maritime security through sustained collaboration in shipbuilding and naval technology development.
