Nigerian Navy | |
---|---|
Founded | 1956 |
Country | Nigeria |
Type | Navy |
Role | Naval warfare |
Part of | Nigerian Armed Forces |
Motto(s) | "Onward Together" |
Fleet | 1 landing ship tank 1 frigate 2 offshore patrol vessels 2 minesweepers 9 fast patrol boats 2 patrol cutters 16 inshore patrol crafts |
Engagements | Nigerian Civil War First Liberian Civil War Sierra Leone Civil War Conflict in the Niger Delta Boko Haram insurgency Invasion of the Gambia |
Website | http://www.navy.mil.ng/ |
Commanders | |
Commander-in-Chief | President Bola Tinubu |
Chief of Defence Staff | General Christopher Musa |
Chief of the Naval Staff | Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla |
Insignia | |
Naval ensign | |
Aircraft flown | |
Attack | Lynx Mk.89[citation needed] |
Reconnaissance | Aerostar |
Trainer | AgustaWestland AW109 |
The Nigerian Navy (NN) is the naval force of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is a branch of the Nigerian Armed Forces. With 75 warships (including the two frigates Thunder and Aradu), it is categorised as the fifth strongest navy in Africa (after South Africa, Egypt, Algeria and Morocco). It is considered well-trained and has participated in several peacekeeping missions.[1]
The Nigerian Navy owes its origin to the Nigerian Marine. Formed in 1914 after the amalgamation of the then Northern and Southern Nigeria, the Nigerian Marine, as it became known after 1914, was a quasi-military organization. This force expanded to become the Southern Nigerian Marine in 1893. A Northern Nigeria equivalent was formed in 1900. The two Marines were merged in 1914.[citation needed]Responsibilities included administration of the ports and harbours, dredging of channels, buoyage and lighting. It also operated ferry services, touring launches, and other small craft that plied the various creeks and other inland waterways.[2]
The first of these new organizations was the Nigerian Ports Authority, which was charged with the running of ports and ensuring safe navigation. The second organisation was the Inland Waterways Department, which took over the running of ferries and touring launches. The third organisation was the Nigerian Naval Force, made up mostly of reserve Royal Navy officers and ex-Service personnel who had been transferred to the Nigerian Ports Authority from the defunct Nigerian Marine. Its primary responsibility was to train the personnel and set up the appropriate infrastructure necessary for the planned Navy. The first basic training establishment for the future Navy—the HMNS Quorra—was started on 1 November 1957 with 60 junior ratings, who underwent a 6-month basic seamanship course.[3]
In July 1959, the Nigerian Naval Force was transformed into a full-fledged Navy when Queen Elizabeth II granted permission for it to use the title "Royal Nigerian Navy". The title was changed to the "Nigerian Navy" in 1963 after Nigeria became a republic.[citation needed] The constitutional task of the Navy was expanded in 1964 after the repeal of the 1958 Ordinance. The new law, known as the Navy Act of 1964, for the first time tasked the Navy with the "naval defence of Nigeria".[citation needed] Other tasks assigned to the Navy by the 1964 Act were essentially coast guard duties, namely assisting in the enforcement of customs laws, making hydrographic surveys, and training officers and men in naval duties.[3]
These tasks were essentially routine functions of any navy. Consequently, the naval leadership began to mount pressure on the political leadership to re-define the constitutional role of the navy. In 1993, this pressure yielded the desired result and under a new law, Armed Forces Decree 105 (now known as the Armed Forces Act), was incorporated as part of the 1999 Constitution. The Nigerian Navy was given expanded military and constabulary roles, especially in the oil and gas sectors of the Nigerian maritime economy.[4]
The NN is currently structured into 9 Branches at the Naval Headquarters, 6 commands and a number of autonomous units. The 6 commands are made up of 3 operational commands – Western Naval Command, Central Naval Command and Eastern Naval Command with headquarters located at Apapa, Yenagoa and Calabar- as well as the Training , Doctrine & Logistics Commands with headquarters at Apapa and Oghara respectively. Each of the 5 commands is headed by a Flag Officer of the rank of Rear Admiral. The NN autonomous units include:
The Naval Headquarters is the administrative and policy-making organ of the Nigerian Navy. At its head is the Chief of the Naval Staff, who exercises full command of the Nigerian Navy. The Chief of Naval Staff has seven staff branches in addition to the Office of the Navy Secretary. The branches are: Policy and Plans, Training and Operations, Administration, Naval Engineering, Logistics, Accounts and Budget, and Safety and Standards. These branches are headed by Principal Staff Officers of flag rank.[5]
Main article: Chief of Naval Staff (Nigeria) |
The Chief of the Naval Staff is the highest ranking military officer of the Nigerian Navy.[6] The position is often occupied by the most senior commissioned officer appointed by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.The Chief of the Naval Staff reports to the Chief of Defence Staff, who also reports to the Defence Minister.[7] The Statutory duty of the Officer is to formulate and execute policies towards the highest attainment of National Security and operational competence of the Nigerian Navy.[8] The current Chief of Naval Staff is Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, who was appointed on 19 June 2023, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to succeed Gambo.[9][10]
Directly under the Naval Headquarters are three operational commands (Western Naval Command, Eastern Naval Command, and Central Naval Command), one training command, one logistics command, and several autonomous units.
The Western Naval Command Headquarters is located at Apapa in Lagos. It covers the sea and coastal areas from the Nigeria/Benin border at Long 002o 49’ E to Long 005o E in Delta State, from the Nigerian coastline to the limit of the nation's exclusive economic zone.[11] The command has the following units under its jurisdiction:
The Western Naval Command Also maintains presence at Tongegi Island in Ondo State.
The Western Command is headed by a Flag Officer Commanding who is of the rank of Rear Admiral. The previous Flag Officers Commanding are Rear Admiral RO Osondu, Rear Admiral FD Bobai, Rear Admiral SAG Abbah, Rear Admiral OH Ngalabak.,[12] Rear Admiral Oladele Bamidele Daji and Rear Admiral Barabutemegha Jason Gbassa. The current Flag officer commanding is Rear Admiral Yakubu Bala Wambai.
The Eastern Naval Command is the second operations command of the Nigerian Navy and covers the sea area from Long 006o 30'E in Delta State to the Nigeria/Cameroon border at Long 008o 30’ E, and from the Nigerian coastline to the limit of the nation's exclusive economic zone.[13] The headquarters is at Calabar. The Command has the following units under its jurisdiction:
The Central Naval Command is the third operations command of the Nigerian Navy. The headquarters is in Yenagoa in Bayelsa State. Its area of responsibility stretches from the Benin River entrance (Long 0050 00'E) to the Santa Barbara River entrance (Long 0060 30'E), encompassing the coastal states of Bayelsa, Delta, and Edo, and the landward states, including Kogi.[5]
The command has the following units under its jurisdiction:
The main functions of the Naval Training Command are the coordination and harmonization of training doctrines and standards for all local training in the Nigerian Navy, as evolved by the Naval Headquarters. The Command is headed by the Flag Officer Commanding, who is assisted by nine principal staff officers, namely: the Command Staff Officer, the Command Technical Training Officer, Command Logistic Training Officer, and Command Medical Training Officer. Others are the Command Academic Training Officer, CABO, CAO, CINTO and CPM.[clarification needed][14][15] The units under the Naval Training Command are:
The Logistics Command is headed by a Flag Officers Commanding of Rear Admiral rank. The permanent headquarters is at Oghara, Delta State. However, the Nigerian Navy Order establishing the Logistics Command has been released and the command has since started operation. The order stipulates the organization and responsibilities of the command.[16]
The autonomous units are those units which require prudent management and high-level control that need not be duplicated or represented at the lower hierarchy. Though small in size, they report directly to the Chief of the Naval Staff. Prominent among the autonomous units is the Nigerian Naval Dockyard, located in Victoria Island, Lagos. Hitherto, third line maintenance had been carried out either in foreign dockyards or private ones in Nigeria, at very high cost. The Naval Dockyard in Lagos, which was commissioned on 27 August 1990, now takes care of high level maintenance, such as major overhaul of ships engines, additions and alterations, and modification of designs. The Naval Shipyard in Port Harcourt was also acquired in 1990 from Messrs Witt and Bush. Smaller ships of the Nigerian Navy and merchant ships are repaired there. The shipyard has built and delivered some tugboats and barges to some private organizations.
The 101 Squadron was established in 1985, based at Navytown, near Ojo. It operated AgustaWestland Lynx helicopters for anti-submarine warfare and search and rescue (SAR) operations from the Meko class frigate NNS Aradu. For quite some time, the Squadron has operated Agusta 109 Helicopters from Warri Naval Base on anti-smuggling and oil protection duties.[17][16]
Main article: Special Boat Service (Nigeria) |
The Special Boat Service is a special operations unit of the Nigerian Navy. It is a male only outfit fashioned after the Royal Navy's Special Boat Service. It is predominantly focused on, but not restricted to; littoral and riverine operations, including reconnaissance and surveillance; covert beach reconnaissance in advance of an amphibious assault; recovery or protection of ships and oil installations subject to hostile state or non-state action; maritime counter-terrorism; and offensive action.[18]
On 21 April 2020, ten SBS commandos boarded the Tommi Ritscher, a container ship captured by pirates off the shore of Benin.[19] Benin authorities gave the SBS commandos a letter of commendation.
The Nigerian Navy has been undergoing significant modernisation since the beginning of the last decade in response to the criminal activities occurring in its area of responsibility in the Gulf of Guinea. Presently in possession of the Nigerian Navy is a MEKO 360 Type H1 frigate, NNS Aradu, which completed a refit in 2020 and will undergo refurbishment at Dearsan Shipyards in Turkiye. The NNS Aradu will serve as a combat training ship for Nigeria's acquisition of a new light frigate from Dearsan Shipyards.[26][27] Dearsan Shipyards has also been contracted with the construction of 2x Dearsan OPV 76 and a Tuzla class patrol vessel. Other pending acquisitions of the Nigerian Navy include 3x 46metres patrol vessels from Poly Technologies in China, 1x 35metres Offshore Survey Vessel and from Ocean Shipyards in France, 2x 46metres Seaward Defence boats from Naval Dockyard Limited, Nigeria and a second LST-100 from Damen Shipyards in UAE.
Nigeria's mid- and long-term acquisition plans aim to fill some of these capability gaps.[28] For example, the keel for a Damen LST-100-class landing ship for amphibious operations and force projection has been laid.[29]
Dearsan is building 2 OPV 76 Offshore patrol vessels for the Nigerian Navy.[30] It will be delivered also 1 Tuzla class Patrol boat for the Nigerian Navy.[31]
Ship name and Pennant no. | Photo | Class | Origin | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
NNS Aradu (F89) | MEKO 360 Type H1 frigate | Germany | Refitted in 2020. Will undergo refurbishment in Dearsan Shipyards in Turkey[32] | |
Long range patrol cutters | ||||
NNS Thunder (F90) | Hamilton-class offshore patrol vessel | United States | Active | |
NNS Okpabana (F93) | Hamilton-class offshore patrol vessel | United States | Active |
Ship name and pennant no. | Photo | Class | Country | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
NNS Centenary (F91) | P18N class | China | Active | |
NNS Unity (F92) | P18N class | China | Active |
See also: Fast attack craft |
Ship name and Pennant no. | Photo | Class | Origin | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
NNS Andoni (P100) | Seaward Defence Boat 1 | Nigeria | Commissioned in 2012 | |
NNS Karaduwa (P102) | Seaward Defence Boat 2 | Nigeria | Commissioned in 2016 | |
NNS Oji (P275) [33] | Seaward Defence Boat 3 | Nigeria | Commissioned in 2021 | |
NNS SDBIV | Seaward Defence Boat 4 | Nigeria | Under construction | |
NNS SDBV | Seaward Defence Boat 5 | Nigeria | Under construction | |
NNS Ekpe (P178) | Luerssen FPB57 fast patrol boat | Germany | ||
NNS Damisa (P179) | Luerssen FPB57 fast patrol boat | Germany | ||
NNS Agu (P180) | Luerssen FPB57 fast patrol boat | Germany | ||
NNS Dorina (P101) | Ocea FPB 98 MKII | France | ||
NNS Siri (P181) | Combattante IIIB fast attack craft | France | ||
NNS Ayam (P182) | Combattante IIIB fast attack craft | France | ||
NNS Ekun (P183) | Combattante IIIB fast attack craft | France | ||
Wave Rider class | Sri Lanka | |||
NNS Nguru | OCEA patrol craft | France | ||
NNS Ekulu | OCEA fast patrol craft | France | ||
NNS Aba | OCEA fast patrol craft | France | ||
NNS Sokoto | OCEA fast patrol craft | France | ||
NNS Sagbama | Fast patrol craft | China | Gifted by China in 2012 | |
TBD | Gifted by China in 2022 | |||
NNS Zaria (P173) | Sea Eagle fast patrol craft | Singapore | ||
NNS Burutu (P174) | Sea Eagle fast patrol craft | Singapore |
Ship name and Pennant no. | Photo | Class | Origin | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
NNS Kyanwa (A 501) | Class C, buoy tender | United States | ex USCGC Sedge[34] | |
NNS Ologbo (A 502) | Class A, buoy tender | United States | ex USCGC Cowslip.[35] | |
NNS Nwamba (A 503) | Class C, buoy tender | United States | ex USCGC Firebush[36] | |
NNS Obula (A 504) | Class C, buoy tender | United States | ex USCGC Sassafras.[37] |
Type | Photo | In service | Origin | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Shaldag MK2-class fast patrol boat | 5[38] | Israel | ||
Manta-class patrol boat | 22[38] | Singapore Malaysia |
Designed by Singaporean company, Suncraft Group and built by Malaysian shipyard, Northern Shipyard. | |
Defender-class boat (RB-S) | 15 | United States | ||
Cedric-class patrol boat | 9[39] | Sri Lanka | ||
Epenal security patrol boat | 30[39] | Nigeria |
Ship name and Pennant no. | Photo | Class | Origin | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
NNS Ohue (M371) | Lerici-class minehunter | Italy | ||
NNS Barama (M372) | Lerici-class minehunter | Italy |
Ship name and Pennant no. | Photo | Class | Origin | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
NNS Kada[40] | Landing Ship, Tank (LST) | United Arab Emirates | Arrived Nigeria in 2022[41][42] |
Ship name and Pennant no. | Class | Origin | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
NNS Amariya | Presidential yacht and training ship[43] | ||
NNS Argungu (P 165) | Argungu class | Germany | |
NNS Yola (P 166) | Argungu class | Germany | |
NNS Brass (P 169) | Argungu class | Germany | |
NNS Epe (P 170) | Argungu class | Germany | |
NNS Makurdi (P 167) | Makurdi class | United Kingdom | |
NNS Hadejia (P 168) | Makurdi class | United Kingdom | |
NNS Jebba (P 171) | Makurdi class | United Kingdom | |
NNS Oguta (P 172) | Makurdi class | United Kingdom | |
NNS Prosperity | Emer-class offshore patrol vessel | Ireland | Training ship |
NNS Okpoku (P175) | Ocea FPB 72 fast patrol boat | France | delivered in 2013[44] |
NNS Bomadi (P176) | Ocea FPB 72 fast patrol boat | France | delivered in 2013[44] |
NNS Badagry (P177) | Ocea FPB 72 fast patrol boat | France | delivered in 2013[44] |
NNS Shiroro (P185) | Ocea FPB 72 fast patrol boat | France | delivered in 2017[45][46] |
NNS Ose (P186) | Ocea FPB 72 fast patrol boat | France | delivered in 2017[45][46] |
NNS Gongola (P189) | Ocea FPB 72 fast patrol boat | France | delivered in 2018[46] |
NNS Calabar (P190) | Ocea FPB 72 fast patrol boat | France | delivered in 2018[46] |
NNS Osun | Ocea FPB 72 fast patrol boat | France | delivered in 2020 |
NNS Lana (A499) | Ocea OSV 190 hydrographic survey vessel[47] | France | [48] delivered on the 15th of April 2021 |
Aircraft | Photo | Type | Origin | In service | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Westland Lynx | Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) helicopter | United Kingdom | 3 | ||
AgustaWestland AW109 | Light utility helicopter | Italy | 12 | 1 AW-109SP inducted into service in May 2023, 2 more awaiting delivery | |
AW139 | Utility helicopter | Italy | 2[49] | 1 AW-139 inducted into service in December 2021 | |
AR-500B | rotorcraft UAV | China | 4 |