Nigerian Navy To Commission Ships, Helicopters, At 69th Anniversary Celebrations
By Anne Osemekeh, Abuja
The Nigerian Navy says it is set to commission 3 ships, 3 helicopters, and junior officers’ accommodation at NNS BEECROFT Apapa, Lagos as part of activities to mark its 69th Anniversary Celebrations, 2025 “Navy Week”.
The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, disclosed this on Monday during an international press conference at the Naval Headquarters in Abuja.
The CNS, who was ably represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans, Rear Admiral Ibrahim Abdullahi Dewu, said this year’s Navy Week will commence with the special Juma’at Prayers, which will be held on Friday, 23rd May 2025 at Mogadishu Cantonment in Abuja, while the Interdenominational Church Service will hold on Sunday, 25th May at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, Navy Town, Lagos.
He added that Medical Rhapsodies and activities of the Naval Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA) will be held simultaneously on Monday, 26 May 2025 in Nigerian Navy host communities across Commands, after which, a Sailing Competition and Boat Race will take place at the Nigerian Navy Sailing Club in Lagos on Wednesday, 28 May 2025.
On that same day, there will be an unveiling of the newly remodelled auditorium of the International Maritime Institute of Nigeria, which was established during the Navy Week last year as the brainchild of the Chief of Naval Staff.
The International Maritime Institute was conceptualised to be the most veritable platform and think-tank for maritime strategic thinkers, practitioners and foreign allies to share ideas and undertake research in maritime strategic affairs, and since then, the institute has made some modest achievements.
“On Thursday, 29 May 2025, ships will be open to visitors in all Commands of the Navy. You are hereby enjoined to make an effort to visit any of our ships in Lagos, Warri, Port Harcourt or Calabar. Similarly, the next day, Friday 30 May 2025, designated ships across all Commands will take all our visitors to sea for a few hours during the day.
“Once again, you are invited to go onboard our ships with your family and friends to experience life at sea. On the same day, there will be a Golf Kitty at the Dolphin Golf Club in Navy Town Ojo, Lagos.
Dewu added that the series of activities marking the Navy Week Celebration this year will be rounded off on Sunday, 1 June 2025, with the Ceremonial Sunset and Dinner at Naval Dockyard Limited, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The Nigerian Navy Anniversary Celebration, often referred to as ‘Navy Week’, is an annual event held to commemorate the establishment of the Nigerian Navy as part of the Armed Forces of Nigeria on 1 June 1956.
