Nigeria’s Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, has pledged to intensify the fight against maritime crime by deploying advanced technological tools to secure the nation’s waters.
The announcement comes amid growing concern over piracy, oil theft and other illicit activities in the Gulf of Guinea.
Speaking through the Commandant of the Naval War College, Calabar, Rear Admiral Muhammad Muye, Abbas said the integration of “hi-tech equipment would significantly curtail the operations of criminal elements within Nigeria’s maritime domain.”
He averred that the Navy is shifting from “reactive patrols to intelligence-driven operations backed by modern surveillance systems.”
Abbas made the commitment while fielding questions from LEADERSHIP Friday in Calabar.
He stressed that “the Navy would not rest until criminal activities on Nigeria’s waterways are brought under control,” emphasizing that technology would be central to achieving that goal.
The CNS revealed the plan at the end of a Special JUMA’AT prayer marking the Nigeria Navy’s 70th Anniversary, held at the Eastern Naval Command Central Mosque, IBB Way, Calabar.
The prayer session brought naval personnel together to seek divine support for ongoing efforts to secure the coastline.
He stated that the deployment of high-technology equipment is expected to enhance “detection, tracking, and response capabilities against sea thieves.”
This includes systems that can monitor vessel movements in real time and improve coordination between naval units, reflecting the federal government’s broader strategy to protect Nigeria’s economic lifeline at sea.
Abbas assured Nigerians that the Navy is “fully prepared to tackle threats along the nation’s waterways” and will sustain pressure on criminal networks until the maritime space is safe for commerce and fishing.
In his remarks, the Imam of the Eastern Naval Command Mosque, Navy Captain Muhammad Zakariyah, prayed “Allah to protect the navy and the civilian population who reside in the same place with Navy personnel.”
