The Nigerian Navy has intensified efforts to expand its indigenous shipbuilding programme to boost operational capability and reduce dependence on foreign-built naval platforms.
This was highlighted 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, the largest maritime defence and security exhibition in the Middle East, was held under the patronage of the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and brought together global defence manufacturers, naval leaders and maritime security experts.
The Nigerian Navy spokesman, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, in a statement , said the CNS engaged leading maritime solution providers on emerging technologies, focusing on modern naval platforms and technology transfer to strengthen local shipbuilding capacity.
According to the statement, “the CNS interacted with solution providers on the latest innovations related to platform acquisition and technology transfer to improve the Nigerian Navy’s indigenous ship production capacity.”
The Navy said expanded technology transfer would help scale up local shipbuilding and support its long-term goal of becoming a leading warship manufacturer on the African continent.
The Navy has so far locally built five seagoing vessels: MV Sauka Lafia (2010), NNS Andoni (2012), NNS Karaduwa (2016), MV Tug Commander Ugwu (2016) and NNS Oji (2021).
DIMDEX 2026 also enabled the Navy to assess precision-guided munitions suitable for maritime security operations in Nigerian waters, in line with the CNS’s vision of developing a modern, agile and professional naval force to secure Nigeria’s maritime interests.
