The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, on Thursday, January 1, 2026, marked the New Year by visiting frontline troops deployed for counter-terrorism operations in Borno State, reaffirming the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to national security and joint military operations.
The CNS undertook an operational tour of the Headquarters Joint Task Force, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), in Maiduguri, where he was received by the Theatre Commander, Major General AE Abubakar. During the visit, the Theatre Commander briefed the naval chief on recent operational gains, ongoing challenges, and future plans within the North-East Theatre of Operations.
Major General Abubakar highlighted the effectiveness of coordinated operations by the Land, Maritime, and Air Components of the Joint Task Force, noting that sustained joint offensives had significantly degraded the capabilities of terrorist groups. Vice Admiral Abbas commended the leadership and personnel of OPHK for their resilience and dedication, assuring them that identified challenges would be addressed promptly.
From Maiduguri, the CNS proceeded to Naval Base Lake Chad (NBLC) in Baga, where he was received by the Base Commander, Commodore Peter Gambo Yilme. He was conducted around key facilities of the base and later embarked on a boat ride across Lake Chad, recently cleared to restore safe navigation and revive economic activities in the area.
While in Baga, Vice Admiral Abbas shared a New Year meal with officers and men of the Naval Base Lake Chad and the 196 Amphibious Battalion co-located in the area. He praised the personnel for their sacrifices, describing their deployment at Nigeria’s extreme North-Eastern border as both demanding and critical to safeguarding the nation’s territorial integrity and securing vital waterways.
The CNS noted that his presence in the North-East on New Year’s Day was aimed at boosting troop morale and underscored his vision for the Nigerian Navy: to maintain a mobile, agile, and professional force dedicated to securing Nigeria’s maritime domain in synergy with other security agencies.
Accompanied by the Chief of Operations, Rear Admiral MB Katagum, and the Chief of Logistics, Rear Admiral SH Abdullahi, the CNS reaffirmed that the Nigerian Navy remains resolute in denying terrorists the use of Lake Chad waterways through sustained, coordinated operations alongside sister services and other security agencies in the theatre.