It was emotion, applause and history all rolled into one as Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, the outgoing Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), formally handed over to his successor, Rear Admiral Ibrahim Abbas, on Thursday, 30th October 2025, at the Ezeoba Hall, Naval Headquarters, Abuja.
Ogalla, who served for 34 years, declared with pride, as he celebrated a defining record zero piracy during his tenure.
“To have served as your Chief of Naval Staff has been the greatest honour of my professional life.
“We preserved the sanctity of our maritime space ensuring there was no piracy incident under my watch,” he said, recalling Nigeria’s delisting from the International Maritime Bureau’s piracy report in March 2022.
The outgoing Navy boss also recounted major anti-oil theft breakthroughs under Operation DELTA SANITY and its sequel DELTA SANITY II, saying,“Over 800 illegal refining sites and 5,515 storage facilities were destroyed, 240 suspects and 76 vessels arrested.”
He revealed that the Navy’s fiscalisation role at oil and gas export terminals has boosted transparency and increased national production to its highest point in ten years.
Fleet upgrade was another high point. According to Ogalla,“We acquired 2 survey vessels, 57 riverine boats, 7 fast patrol boats, 6 insurrection patrol crafts, 3 tugboats, 2 capital ships, 5 transport helicopters, 5 logistics barges and 23 UAVs.”
He confirmed that the Seaward Defence Boats 4 and 5 are nearly ready for launch.
Infrastructure and welfare also took centre stage. New Naval bases sprouted in Kaduna, Kano, Kogi, Lagos, Rivers, Benue, Ogun, Niger, and Enugu States. Housing, jetties, and strategic facilities were upgraded, while new welfare schemes targeted medical care, education, and family support.
“Our personnel are the backbone of the Service. We owe them the best possible welfare,” Ogalla asserted, noting the introduction of the CNS Quick Impact Project empowering Rear Admirals to support their home communities.
He also spotlighted the establishment of the Special Operations Command and the Nigerian Navy Marines, whose pioneer batch will graduate in early 2026.
On regional and international engagements, Ogalla said the Navy under his command deepened ties through multinational exercises like OBANGAME EXPRESS, GRAND AFRICA NEMO, and FLINTLOCK, while Nigeria also signed a landmark MoU with the African Union for strategic sealift and humanitarian operations.
Ogalla, visibly emotional, saluted naval officers and the Nigerian Navy Officers Wives Association (NOWA), led by his wife Mrs Ijeoma Ogalla, for their resilience and sacrifices.
“Our wives are the anchors that steady our course, even when duty calls us far from home,” he said.
He thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Ministers of Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff, governors, and his predecessors for their support, urging personnel to remain loyal to the Constitution and to the incoming CNS, Rear Admiral Ibrahim Abbas.
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