The growing cost of imported military equipment, prolonged supply lead times and increasingly sophisticated maritime threats have prompted the Nigerian Navy to intensify efforts towards indigenous research and development as part of measures to strengthen operational readiness and national security.
The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, disclosed this on Thursday during the opening ceremony of the 2026 Nigerian Navy Research and Development Seminar at Ezeoba Hall, Naval Headquarters, Abuja.
According to an official account of the event, Abbas said the service was prioritising the application of emerging technologies to address operational challenges, optimise resources and strengthen its capacity to protect Nigeria’s maritime interests.
The seminar, themed “Deepening the Application of Emerging Technologies for Operational Effectiveness,” brought together senior military officers, defence research officials, technology experts and other stakeholders to examine how innovation could translate into practical operational capabilities.
Abbas said the changing maritime security environment demanded more sophisticated responses, particularly as criminal networks continued to exploit technology to evade detection and threaten critical national assets.
He stressed that the Navy’s technology drive must go beyond equipment acquisition to deliver measurable improvements in operational performance.
“The objective is not simply to acquire more technology, but to achieve greater operational effectiveness with the resources available to us,” the CNS said.
He explained that intelligence-led maritime surveillance had improved domain awareness, enabled more targeted patrols and reduced unnecessary expenditure on fuel and maintenance while enhancing response to identified threats.
According to him, surveillance of offshore installations and other critical national infrastructure had also strengthened efforts to combat crude oil theft and related economic crimes.
The naval chief said emerging technologies could further extend these capabilities to creeks and adjoining coastal areas, particularly for pipeline monitoring and protection, thereby supporting the security of vital national assets and sustained oil production.
On local capacity development, Abbas cited progress in indigenous shipbuilding and maintenance through the Navy’s dockyard and shipyard as evidence of the importance of building domestic capabilities to sustain naval operations.
He added that technological innovation was equally important to counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations, where naval personnel, including Marines and Special Forces, participate in joint military missions.
He identified unmanned surveillance, improved intelligence gathering, secure communications and enhanced battlefield awareness as critical capabilities for strengthening operational coordination and protecting personnel.
To institutionalise innovation, Abbas said his strategic direction provided for the establishment of research and development cells at command level, alongside plans to establish the Nigerian Navy Research Institute.
The initiatives, he explained, would harness the technical expertise of naval personnel and convert research findings into affordable solutions that address identified operational needs.
“Meaningful innovation cannot be achieved through isolated efforts. It requires purposeful collaboration with universities, research institutions and indigenous industries,” he said.
Abbas therefore challenged participants to identify specific capability gaps, recommend viable research partnerships and develop practical pathways for translating promising innovations into equipment and systems that could be deployed by operational units.
“Our success must be measured by the capabilities we develop, the resources we save and the operational results we achieve,” he said.
Earlier, the Chief of Transformation and Innovation, Naval Headquarters, Rear Admiral Chijioke Onyemaobi said the seminar aligned with the CNS’s vision of strengthening research and development while promoting indigenous technological solutions.
The official identified artificial intelligence, unmanned systems, advanced sensors and additive manufacturing as emerging technologies reshaping naval operations, fleet maintenance and sustainability.
He warned that the rising cost of imported platforms and spare parts, coupled with lengthy supply lead times, made local technological development essential to the Navy’s operational readiness.
“A navy that depends entirely on others for its technology cannot fully control its own readiness,” he said.
The two-day seminar features five presentations by resource persons and a moderated interactive session on the first day. The Naval Dockyard Limited, Naval Shipyard Limited and the Nigerian Navy Institute of Technology, Sapele, are expected to present their research and development initiatives on the second day.
Abbas commended the Naval Transformation and Innovation Branch, headed by Rear Admiral Nguye Mubi, for organising the seminar and acknowledged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s continued support for strengthening the Navy’s operational capabilities.
He subsequently declared the seminar open, urging participants to ensure that their recommendations were practical, sustainable and responsive to the service’s operational requirements.
