In furtherance of efforts to strengthen the Nigerian Navy’s operational capacity and platform holdings, the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas (Admiralty Medal), has attended the 9th edition of the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX 2026), held in Qatar from 19 to 22 January 2026.
DIMDEX 2026 was held under the esteemed patronage of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, and hosted by the Qatar Armed Forces. Recognised as the largest maritime defence and security exhibition in the Middle East, the event provided a strategic platform for showcasing cutting-edge innovations in naval and maritime security technologies. The Nigerian Navy’s participation has opened new opportunities for enhancing its fleet composition in line with emerging global trends.
During the four-day exhibition, several visiting warships from partner nations were berthed at Hamad Port and made accessible to dignitaries and other participants, further deepening professional and operational engagements among navies.
On the sidelines of the conference, the CNS engaged extensively with leading solution providers in the maritime defence industry on current trends in naval platforms, with particular emphasis on technology transfer aimed at boosting the Nigerian Navy’s indigenous shipbuilding capacity. To date, the Nigerian Navy has locally constructed five seagoing platforms: MV Sauka Lafia (commissioned in 2010), NNS Andoni (2012), NNS Karaduwa (2016), MV Tug Commander Ugwu (2016), and NNS Oji (2021). The anticipated technology transfer initiatives are expected to further position the Nigerian Navy as a leading warship manufacturer on the African continent.
DIMDEX 2026 also provided an opportunity for the Nigerian Navy to assess a wide range of precision-guided munitions and naval gunfire support systems suitable for maritime security operations within Nigerian waters and across the Gulf of Guinea.
Additionally, strategic discussions were held on equipment requirements for the newly established Nigerian Navy Marines, who are expected to be deployed in various ongoing joint operations nationwide. This aligns with the CNS’s vision of developing “a modern, agile and professional naval force dedicated to securing Nigeria’s maritime interests and advancing national security objectives in synergy with other security agencies.”