The Nigerian Navy has stepped up efforts to expand its indigenous shipbuilding programme as part of plans to strengthen its operational capability and reduce dependence on foreign-built naval platforms. A statement on Thursday by the Nigerian Navy spokesman, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, said that during the four-day exhibition, Abbas held engagements with maritime solution providers on emerging technologies, with emphasis on the acquisition of modern naval platforms and technology transfer to boost the Navy’s local ship production capacity. According to the statement, expanding technology transfer arrangements would further reposition it to scale up indigenous shipbuilding and achieve its long-term objective of becoming a leading warship manufacturer on the African continent. “The prospects of technology transfer would further reposition the NN to become a leading manufacturer of warships on the African continent.”The PUNCH reports that the Navy has successfully constructed five seagoing vessels locally. These are: MV Sauka Lafia, inaugurated in 2010; NNS Andoni, in 2012; NNS Karaduwa, in 2016; MV Tug Commander Ugwu, also in 2016; and NNS Oji in 2021.

Source: Punch January 23, 2026 16:49 UTC