Naval Doctrine Key to Tackling Evolving Maritime Threats, Nigerian Navy Declares at Maiden Seminar

 Naval Doctrine Key to Tackling Evolving Maritime Threats, Nigerian Navy Declares at Maiden Seminar

LAGOS — The Nigerian Navy has emphasized the critical role of doctrine in strengthening maritime security operations and addressing emerging threats within Nigeria's maritime domain, as senior military officers, academics, and security experts converged in Lagos for the maiden Naval Doctrine Seminar organized by the Naval Doctrine Command (NAVDOC).

The two-day seminar, held from June 18 to 19, 2026, focused on the theme, "Leveraging Doctrine for Enhanced Nigerian Navy Operations in a Complex Maritime Security Environment," and underscored the importance of adaptive doctrine in confronting both conventional and non-conventional security challenges.

Representing the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, at the event, the Chief of Naval Safety and Standards, Rear Admiral PS Anabraba, described the seminar as a landmark initiative that reflects the Nigerian Navy's commitment to professional excellence, institutional transformation, and operational effectiveness.

According to Rear Admiral Anabraba, doctrine remains one of the most important pillars of military effectiveness as it provides a common framework for how armed forces think, train, plan, and conduct operations.

"The theme of this seminar is both timely and strategic. Throughout military history, doctrine has remained the bridge between strategy and operations, translating national objectives into practical military action," he said.

He noted that Nigeria's maritime environment continues to face increasingly complex threats, including piracy, sea robbery, crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, illegal bunkering, smuggling, human trafficking, illegal fishing, and other transnational maritime crimes.

The senior naval officer further observed that emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, cyber capabilities, unmanned systems, and advanced surveillance networks are reshaping naval warfare and maritime security operations, thereby necessitating continuous doctrinal reviews and adaptation.

While highlighting the Nigerian Navy's successes in combating piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Guinea, Rear Admiral Anabraba stressed that criminal networks continue to evolve their tactics, making it imperative for the Navy to continuously refine its operational concepts and doctrinal foundations.

He commended the Naval Doctrine Command for organizing the seminar and urged participants to ensure that discussions and recommendations generated during the event are translated into practical initiatives that would enhance doctrine development, professional military education, and operational readiness.

"As we celebrate the Nigerian Navy at 70, it is important that the insights generated from this seminar are properly documented and incorporated into future doctrine review and development processes," he stated.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Flag Officer Commanding Naval Doctrine Command, Rear Admiral BK Effiong, described naval doctrine as the foundation upon which navies are organized, trained, equipped, deployed, and evaluated.

He explained that ongoing fleet renewal efforts, the establishment of new naval formations, and the changing nature of contemporary security threats have created the need for a more proactive doctrinal approach to naval operations.

"The maritime domain remains the lifeblood of our national security and economic prosperity. However, threats ranging from piracy and asymmetric warfare to transnational maritime crimes continue to evolve. To effectively secure our territorial waters and maintain a credible fleet, we cannot rely solely on historical traditions; we must be guided by clear, codified, and adaptable doctrines," Rear Admiral Effiong said.

He urged participants to use the seminar as a platform for exchanging tactical, operational, and strategic ideas that would shape the future of Nigerian Navy operations and command effectiveness.

A major highlight of the seminar was a keynote presentation delivered by Major General AE Edet, Director General of the Doctrine and Training Centre of the Nigerian Army, on the topic, "The Relevance of Joint Doctrine in Nigeria's Contemporary Security Challenges."

During discussions, participants stressed the importance of integrating conventional warfare considerations into national defence planning and joint operational doctrines, warning against focusing exclusively on current threats while neglecting potential future challenges.

The keynote speaker emphasized that effective joint operations require a unified command and control structure, noting that doctrinal clarity is essential for enhancing cooperation among the armed services and ensuring successful execution of joint missions.

Experts at the seminar also identified several challenges affecting doctrinal development, including inadequate documentation of lessons learned from operations, insufficient doctrinal resources, and misconceptions about doctrine as an abstract rather than practical military tool.

Speakers recommended the development of user-friendly electronic databases for capturing operational lessons, improved capacity building for doctrine personnel, and greater emphasis on doctrine education and implementation across all military services.

The seminar featured presentations and panel discussions by senior serving and retired military officers, including Rear Admiral TC Udofia (Rtd), Rear Admiral Zacharia (Rtd), Air Commodore MA Imam, Rear Admiral SU Gombe (Rtd), Group Captain MO Mazeli, and Captain C. Nwoko, who delivered a lecture on "The Role of Doctrine in Naval Operations."

Participants unanimously agreed that a strong, adaptable, and widely understood doctrinal framework would serve as a force multiplier, enabling the Nigerian Navy and the Armed Forces of Nigeria to respond more effectively to contemporary and emerging security challenges in the maritime domain and beyond.

The maiden Naval Doctrine Seminar is expected to produce actionable recommendations that will guide future doctrine development and contribute to enhancing the operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Navy.