The newly appointed Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Idi Abbas, on Thursday formally assumed office, with a firm pledge to intensify the fight against crude oil theft, illegal bunkering, and other maritime crimes undermining Nigeria’s economic stability.
Speaking during the handing-over ceremony at the Naval Headquarters in Abuja, Rear Admiral Abbas — the 23rd Chief of Naval Staff — acknowledged that despite significant progress made by the Nigerian Navy, the nation’s maritime domain continues to face serious threats from illicit activities such as oil theft, sea robbery, illegal fishing, and drug trafficking.
He outlined key priorities for his tenure, which include bolstering maritime security, enhancing fleet capabilities through aggressive renewal and technology-driven operations, improving personnel training and welfare, and fostering stronger collaboration with other security agencies.
Rear Admiral Abbas reaffirmed his commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime interests, stating, “Our maritime environment remains threatened by the scourge of crude oil theft, sea robbery, illegal bunkering, unregulated fishing, and drug trafficking. We will tackle these challenges head-on to secure our nation’s economic lifeline.”
