70 Years Later, Nigerian Navy Builds Ships and Refits Foreign War Vessels

From a modest post-colonial force that once relied on just 11 inherited crafts and roughly 250 personnel, the Nigerian Navy has grown into what it now describes as Africa’s strongest fleet , a transformation the service says is increasingly being driven by local innovation and indigenous shipbuilding.

As preparations intensify for the Navy’s 70th anniversary celebration, naval authorities revealed that five vessels have already been successfully built locally since 2010, with three additional projects currently under construction in Lagos and Port Harcourt.

The disclosure was made in Abuja during a briefing ahead of the anniversary events by the Chief of Policy and Plans, Rear Admiral Akinola Olatunde, who represented the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas.

For the Navy, the milestone goes beyond ceremonies and commemorative activities. Officials say it reflects how far Nigeria’s maritime defence capability has evolved over seven decades, particularly in an area once considered heavily dependent on foreign expertise.

According to Olatunde, the Navy’s locally produced vessels include three seaward defence boats, a dock boat, and a ferry completed over the last 15 years. He added that work is still ongoing on another 27-metre ferry being constructed by Naval Shipyard Limited in Port Harcourt for the Akwa Ibom State Government.

At the same time, Naval Dockyard Limited in Lagos is building two additional seaward defence boats measuring 44.2 metres in length.

Beyond domestic projects, the Navy says its technical expertise is now attracting attention outside Nigeria’s borders. Olatunde disclosed that Naval Dockyard Limited handled the refitting of three warships belonging to the Benin Republic Navy between 2024 and 2025 and is currently working on three more vessels for the neighbouring country.

The development, according to the naval leadership, represents one of the institution’s proudest achievements since its establishment.

“The aspect of shipbuilding is something that we should be proud of as Nigerians, for the fact that we can build our own ships,” the naval chief stated.

He reflected on the Navy’s early years, recalling that the force began with equipment inherited from the Royal Navy before gradually expanding into a major regional maritime power with more than 34,000 personnel.

“Looking back from that humble beginning to where we are now, 70 years down the line, from inheriting crafts from the Royal Navy to now being able to build ours and having five vessels already completed with two more still under construction, I think shipbuilding is one of our major achievements,” he said.

Nigeria’s home-built vessels are also expected to take centre stage during the International Fleet Review scheduled for June 1 at the Eco Atlantic Waterfront in Lagos.

Naval authorities noted that during the presidential fleet review held in 2023, three of the indigenously constructed vessels led the parade formation, a moment officials described as symbolic of the Navy’s growing local engineering capacity.

The 70th anniversary celebration is expected to culminate in the inauguration of three vessels, marking another milestone in the Navy’s ongoing drive to strengthen indigenous maritime capability and expand Nigeria’s influence within Africa’s naval landscape.