Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, the immediate past Chief of Naval Staff, has revealed that under his leadership, the Nigerian Navy successfully apprehended over 15,000 rogue vessels in the nation’s waterways.

He highlighted the recent arrest of MT HEROIC IDUN, which attempted to load crude oil in Bonny without authorization, as a significant achievement. One of his proudest moments was Nigeria’s removal from the list of piracy-prone countries by the International Maritime Bureau.

Gambo also emphasized the improved surveillance efforts that led to a drastic reduction in marine crime and the sentencing of ten pirates to 12-year imprisonment. During his tenure, the Navy witnessed advancements in operations, logistics, manpower development, and personnel welfare, contributing to the Service’s capacity to project force across the Gulf of Guinea.

Gambo commended the teamwork, integrity, and professionalism that led to these achievements and acknowledged the ever-evolving and transnational nature of maritime threats. He expressed pride in the progress made by the Nigerian Navy over the past two and a half years, including tackling illegal oil bunkering and leveraging technology for more effective and cost-efficient operations.