The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, has described the Nigerian Navy as one of the most challenging branches of the armed forces, due to its extensive offshore activities and the vast resources needed for its operations.
He emphasized that the navy’s policing role has become increasingly vital in safeguarding the economic sustainability of the nation.
Vice Admiral Ogalla made these remarks during an oversight visit by the House of Representatives Committee on Navy to the Naval Headquarters in Abuja. He highlighted that the Nigerian Navy faces numerous challenges in fulfilling its duties, primarily due to inadequate resources and maintenance issues, compounded by Nigeria’s limited industrial capacity.
“The navy is tasked with the dual responsibility of protecting the nation’s territorial waters and policing the maritime environment,” Ogalla stated. He explained that the Nigerian Constitution designates the navy as responsible for securing Nigeria’s maritime domain, which includes coastal zones, internal waters, territorial waters, and the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
“When we talk about the exclusive economic zone of Nigeria, we are talking about 84,000 square nautical miles, which translates to about 290,000 square kilometres—approximately one-third of the nation’s landmass,” Ogalla said. He added that the Nigerian Navy, as a dominant force in the region, also has a significant interest in securing the entire Gulf of Guinea.
Beyond its military role, the Nigerian Navy is charged with “coast guard functions” or policing duties, as stipulated by the Armed Forces Act. However, the CNS noted that many of the navy’s maintenance and procurement needs are foreign-based, making it difficult to sustain operations amidst Nigeria’s economic challenges.
“We are hopeful, and we have always seen the good effort, cooperation, and support from the National Assembly in overcoming some of these challenges,” Ogalla said, expressing gratitude for the legislature’s continuous backing.
In response, the Chairman of the House Committee on Navy, Yusuf Gagdi, acknowledged the challenges faced by the navy and underscored the critical role the service plays in protecting Nigeria’s blue economy. Gagdi explained that the committee’s visit was part of its legislative oversight duties to ensure that the resources allocated to the navy were used efficiently and to hold the institution accountable for the expenditure of taxpayers’ money.
“We are here to follow up on how taxpayers’ money is being spent and to ask questions where necessary. This is not about undermining any institution; it’s about ensuring accountability,” Gagdi stated.
, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, has described the Nigerian Navy as one of the most challenging branches of the armed forces, due to its extensive offshore activities and the vast resources needed for its operations.){kind=link}