The Nigerian Navy is set to establish a dedicated research institute and research and development units across its commands in a major push to reduce reliance on imported military technology and strengthen operational capabilities. Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, announced the initiative on Thursday at the Nigerian Navy Research and Development Seminar 2026, warning that rising equipment costs and supply-chain delays made home-grown innovation a national security priority.
“A Navy that depends entirely on others for its technology cannot fully control its own readiness,” Chief of Transformation and Innovation, Rear Admiral Chijioke Onyeamaobi, said. Abbas said the initiative would harness the ingenuity of naval personnel and turn research into affordable, practical solutions to evolving security threats.
He highlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, advanced sensors and unmanned surveillance in maritime operations, particularly as criminals exploit technology to evade detection and target critical national assets. The Navy chief said technology-driven surveillance had improved maritime awareness, enabled more targeted patrols and reduced fuel and maintenance costs.
Extending these capabilities to creeks and coastal areas, he added, could strengthen pipeline protection, curb crude oil theft and safeguard oil production. Emerging technologies would also support counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations through better intelligence gathering, secure communications and battlefield awareness.
Abbas called for stronger partnerships with universities, research institutions and indigenous industries to develop local solutions, while highlighting the Navy’s shipbuilding and maintenance capabilities as a foundation for greater self-reliance. He urged participants to identify operational gaps and establish practical pathways for turning research into deployable equipment and systems.
“Our success must be measured by the capabilities we develop, the resources we save and the operational results we achieve,” he said. The initiative forms part of the Navy’s broader drive to deepen indigenous technological capacity and improve its ability to respond to Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.