The Nigerian Navy has intensified efforts to deepen its indigenous warship production programme as part of a broader strategy to strengthen operational capacity and reduce dependence on foreign-built naval platforms.
This was disclosed at the ninth edition of the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX 2026), held in Qatar from January 19 to 22, and attended by the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas.
DIMDEX 2026, regarded as the largest maritime defence and security exhibition in the Middle East, brought together naval chiefs, global defence manufacturers and maritime security experts under the patronage of the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the Nigerian Navy’s spokesperson, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, the service said Vice Admiral Abbas utilised the four-day event to engage maritime solution providers on emerging technologies, with emphasis on the acquisition of modern naval platforms and technology transfer to enhance local shipbuilding capacity.
According to the statement, the Navy believes that expanding technology transfer arrangements will position it to scale up indigenous ship production and advance its long-term objective of becoming a leading warship manufacturer on the African continent.
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“In line with the need to further bolster Nigerian Navy platform holding, the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, attended the ninth edition of the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference tagged DIMDEX 2026 from January 19 to 22, 2026, in Qatar,” the statement said.
It added that the CNS held engagements with several maritime industry solution providers on emerging innovations related to naval platforms and technology transfer aimed at strengthening the Navy’s indigenous ship production capacity.
The Navy noted that it has so far successfully built five seagoing vessels locally, including MV Sauka Lafia inaugurated in 2010; NNS Andoni in 2012; NNS Karaduwa in 2016; MV Tug Commander Ugwu also in 2016; and NNS Oji commissioned in 2021.
DIMDEX 2026 also afforded the Nigerian Navy the opportunity to evaluate various precision-guided munitions suitable for maritime security operations within Nigerian waters, in line with the CNS’s vision of building a modern, agile and professional naval force capable of safeguarding the nation’s maritime interests in collaboration with other security agencies.
