The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, has reaffirmed the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to leveraging modern technology to enhance operational efficiency, declaring that the Defence Research and Development Bureau (DRDB) will play a key role in this vision.

Admiral Abbas made this known during a courtesy visit by the Director General of the DRDB, Rear Admiral Kehinde John Odubanjo, to the Naval Headquarters in Abuja.

He stated that the Navy would continue to rely on the Bureau for research and innovation, noting that there would be occasions where DRDB would be tasked with undertaking studies critical to strengthening naval operations.

In his remarks, Rear Admiral Odubanjo congratulated the CNS on his appointment as the 23rd indigenous Chief of Naval Staff and expressed gratitude for the confidence reposed in him to lead the DRDB.

He assured Admiral Abbas that the Bureau would justify the trust placed in it, adding that several technological innovations were already being developed to support naval operations. Odubanjo also reaffirmed the Bureau’s readiness to accommodate specific requests from the service.

The Defence Research and Development Bureau is the nation’s central agency for coordinating and advancing research, innovation, and technology within the defence sector. Established to enhance national security capabilities, the Bureau serves as the strategic link between scientific research and practical defence solutions.

The DRDB’s mandate includes coordinating research activities across the military services, promoting indigenous defence technologies, partnering with academic and private institutions, and driving innovation in weapon systems, surveillance tools, advanced materials, and cyber-defence capabilities. It also advises the Ministry of Defence on emerging threats and priority areas for technological investment.