The Central Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy has intensified strategic engagements with key maritime stakeholders and major Oil Exploration Companies. The engagements are aimed at securing Nigeria’s blue economy and achieving national production targets.
The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Suleiman Ibrahim, led the engagements, which continued with a broader stakeholders’ meeting on Wednesday, 28 January 2026, focusing on addressing security threats to critical maritime and economic assets.
A major highlight of the engagements was the collective resolve by the Nigerian Navy and industry partners to support the Federal Government’s production target of 2.5 million barrels per day (bpd). Stakeholders agreed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s mandate is achievable if all parties synergise efforts to eliminate crude oil theft, sabotage, and operational disruptions. Rear Admiral Ibrahim emphasized that the Navy’s primary responsibility is to provide an enabling secure environment, noting that maritime security remains a shared responsibility between the Navy and industry operators.
The FOC assured stakeholders of the sustained support of the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, (Admiralty Medal) towards optimizing security deployments within the Central Naval Command Area of Responsibility through strategic leadership and the provision of necessary platforms. The engagements also provided an avenue to review the evolving security landscape, with stakeholders expressing confidence that strengthened naval leadership, inter-agency cooperation, and industry collaboration will ensure the attainment of Nigeria’s maritime economic objectives.
