Nigerian Navy Modernization
After the Nigerian Civil War, NN warship acquisition took a great leap from the seaward defence boats to major capital combat ships such as the corvette NNS DORINA. The later part of the 1970s to the early 1980s saw the introduction of missile launching platforms such as the MK 9 Corvettes, the Fast Attack Crafts (FAC) and the frigate/flagship - NNS ARADU, among others, into the NN inventory. Unfortunately, Nigeria's low industrial production capacity and technological base could not provide the crucial back-up required to maintain such high technology-based weapons and associated systems. Consequently, the resulting low ship availability and equipment reliability diminishes operational efficiency in the NN.
Between 2001 and 2008, the Nigerian Armed Forces entered into contractual agreements and/or taken delivery of the following:
- FOUR Balsam-class 61m logistics ships
- TWO stealth offshore patrol craft
- British-made supply vessels
- Many dozens of Chinese, US and Singapore-built fast response boats, troop landing craft and gunboats in the 10-25m configs.
EXPECTED
- 1,450+ton oceangoing OPVs @ US$260 m
- More 38m stealth Offshore Patrol Craft from Singapore
- Super Dvora and Shaldag gunboats from Israel
- More Chinese gunboats and landing craft (rumoured end-figure of 200 units..including already delivered units)
- More Singaporean gunboats
- TWELVE Agusta A109 Power helicopters
- TWELVE Eurocopter AS-550 Fennec naval attack choppers
- FOUR Offshore Patrol Craft from France
- THIRTY gunboats from France
The Air Arm of the Nigerian Navy owns a mix of about 8 Agusta-Westland Lynx helicopters and Agusta 109 Power helicopters. With the expected delivery of TWELVE Eurocopter Fennec naval attack helicopters, it seems likely that the NN Air Arm will have about 20 recce and attack choppers. The necessity for a floating helicopter base for the NN's Air Arm becomes necessary.
In mid-2009 the Nigerian Navy sought the Federal Government's approval to add to its inventory about 49 warships of different types and 42 combat helicopters to enable it police the nation's territorial waterways, including the Gulf of Guinea effectively. To enable the Federal Government meet up with this target, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ishaya Ibrahim stated that the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Defence (MOD), set aside a percentage of the GDP for Maritime Security Equipment Development Fund. Ibrahim stressed that government should also establish Maritime Cabotage Bank to make available maritime-related investment funding. This request was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the Chief of Naval Staff Annual Conference (CONSAC) held in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State Capital.
Vice Admiral Ibrahim stated that for the Navy to pursue its operational capacity that will enable the nation become one of the 20 strongest nations, it should procure the different platforms in three phases, namely short, medium and long term measures.
- the immediate plan which will span for two years, the Federal Government should add to the inventory of the Navy two light frigates, two 85 meter OPVs, six 17 meter Manta Class IPCs, six Shaldag MK 11 Patrol Craft, two 38 meter FPBs, two combat Augusta A138 helicopters, one Landing Platform Dock, and two Logistics Ships.
- In the medium term which will span between two to five years, the CNS said the Nigerian Navy would need, ten OPVs,20 helicopters, one hydrographic ship, two training ships, two logistics ships, and two mine counter measure vessels (MCMVs).
- While the long term plan which he put at between five and ten years, he requested the Federal Government to procure, three Conventional Submarines, two corvettes, two LPDs, 20 long rang maritime patrol helicopters, two training ships and two MCMVs.
"COMING VERY SOON" TO THE NIGERIAN NAVY [2009 Plan]
- TWO LIGHT FRIGATES (these were anticipated to be the German MEKO A200 corvettes, but turned out to by Chinese Type 056),
- TWO 85 meter OPVs (these are the same Castle-class OPVs)
- SIX 17 meter Manta Class Inshore Patrol Craft (two entered NN service in Q1,2009),
- SIX Shaldag MK 11 Patrol Craft (one entered service in July 2009)
- TWO 38 meter Sea Eagle Offshore Patrol Craft (two others entered NN service in April 2009),
- TWO combat Augusta A138 helicopters,
- ONE Landing Platform Dock, and
- TWO Logistics Ships.
MEDIUM TERM (TWO TO FIVE YEARS) [2009 Plan]
- TEN OPVs,
- TWENTY helicopters,
- ONE hydrographic ship,
- TWO training ships,
- TWO logistics ships, and
- TWO mine counter measure vessels (MCMVs).
LONG TERM (FIVE TO TEN YEARS) [2009 Plan]
- THREE Conventional Submarines,
- TWO corvettes,
- TWO LPDs,
- TWENTY long-range maritime patrol helicopters,
- TWO training ships and
- TWO MCMVs.
The Nigerian Navy is undergoing major expansion, with new boats being built locally and overseas. It received at least two Shaldag Mk IIs in June 2009. The Shaldag design is in service with the Israeli Navy and other customers in Europe, Asia and Africa. It was developed and built by Israel Shipyards Ltd in the late 1980s but upgraded over the years based on combat experience. The type is powered by two diesel engines driving two water jets, which give an acceleration time to 40 knots of 40 seconds. The Shaldag Mk II has a length of 24.8 meters, a displacement of 58 tons and a range of 650 nautical miles.
The Nigerian navy operates the former Coast Guard Cutter Chase, now NS Thunder, and are returning for the Coast Guard Cutter Gallatin in 2014 when it completes its last Coast Guard patrol. As an Excess Defense Article (EDA) the Coast Guard High Endurance Cutter was transferred to Nigeria in March 2011 with estimated value $7 million.
In strengthening its military capabilities, Nigeria paid particular attention to improving security in the Niger Delta and off its 780 kilometer long coastline, where it has numerous oil installations. In March 2007 it signed a US$73 million contract for two ATR 42MP maritime patrol aircraft to join its Dornier 128s. The first ATR was delivered in December 2009 and the second in March 2010.
The FY2011 defence budget approved the acquisition of two offshore patrol vessels, the refurbishment of six coastal patrol craft by TP Marine of Holland and the delivery of nine Manta Mk II ASD craft. The Suncraft Group built the six Manta Mk II ASD vessels, bringing the total ordered to 21. The Manta Mk II first entered service with the Nigerian Navy in 2008.
Nigeria’s Navy would be receive nearly two dozen new acquisitions under the 2012 defence budget. The 2012 Defence Budget Proposal also made provision for three Shaldag Mk III fast patrol craft, three 24 meter coastal patrol craft and six 17 meter Manta Mk II ASD littoral interceptors (total cost N2.2 billion/US$13.7 million). French shipbuilder OCEA built the three 24 meter coastal patrol craft and commenced sea trials of the first vessel on 13 March 2012. In addition, the purchase of helicopter and ship spares amounted to N1.04 billion (US$6.5 million), according to Budget Office documents. The Nigerian Navy was allocated N69 billion (US$433 million) under the 2012 budget while the Army was allocated N122 billion (US$766 million), and the Air Force N64 billion (US$402 million).
In 2012, the Nigerian Senate Committee on navy toured naval bases in the five states of the Niger Delta and found the equipment and infrastructure in a broken down state which made it impossible for the force to secure the country's territorial waters.
Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba, said on assuming office in October 2012, that he was committed to repositioning the Nigerian Navy, improving capability for internal security and policing the Gulf of Guinea. As a result, a first Chief of Naval Staff Strategic Guidance document (CNS SG-01) was issued in October 2012. According to Ezeoba, 90% of SG-01’s objectives had been completed by the end of 2013. Significant progress was made on fleet reactivation and recapitalisation, with the availability of operational vessels increasing from 35% to 70% within a year, according to SG-02, released in NOvember 2013.
During 2013 the Nigerian Navy took delivery of three OCEA patrol boats, three Manta Fast Patrol Boats and two Shaldag patrol craft [in February]. The three OCEA fast patrol boats are of 24.00m length with a maximum speed of 32 Knots. Nigeria’s naval dockyard was also building a 38 meter Seaward Defence Boat. The Navy was also refitting the NNS Ekun fast attack craft, NNS Ohue and NNS Barama minesweepers and would soon refit the NNS Yola and NNS Brass patrol craft. In addition, three inshore patrol craft would be reactivated. In November 2013 the Nigerian Navy (NN) took delivery of three new 17 meter-long Manta Mk II ASD Littoral Interceptors and one new 25 meter-long Shaldag Mk II Fast Patrol Craft to help the force battle rampant maritime crime. By the end of 2013 the NN had 22 of the 17 meter-long Manta Mk II ASD Littoral Interceptors while the number of Israeli-made Shaldag Fast Patrol Craft (FPC) vessels had increased to five.
Two P18Ns were ordered, with NNS Centenary being built in China and NNS Unity built in China but having the majority of its outfitting done in Nigeria in order to develop the indigenous shipbuilding industry and alleviate unemployment. CSOC has been contracted to upgrade the Nigerian Naval Shipyard in Port Harcourt so that it can build vessels and maintain vessels up to 10 000 dwt. Upgrades to the dockyard include a new jetty, a new dry dock and other additions. Nigeria ordered the two 1,800 ton Chinese offshore patrol vessels in April 2012 and construction began that October.
NNS Unity, the Nigerian Navy’s second and final P18N offshore patrol vessel (OPV), departed China on 21 September 2016 and was scheduled to arrive in Nigeria at the beginning of November 2016. NNS Unity would assist Nigeria in combating maritime crime in the Gulf of Guinea and would make the Nigerian Navy more effective at responding to maritime challenges in the country’s waters. Delivery of NNS Unity was delayed, with its arrival originally scheduled for the end of 2015. The first P18N, NNS Centenary, built by China Shipbuilding and Offshore International Company (CSOC), arrived in Nigeria on 6 February 2015. In April 2016 Defence Minister Mansur Mohammed Dan Ali visited CSOC in China and pledged to “to resolve the issue with the second offshore patrol vessel they are building for Nigeria and agree on a timeline of delivery".
The Nigerian Navy said in November 2013 it was building commercial war ships for export within the African countries. The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Adm. Dele Ezeoba…expressed confiden[ce] that the Nigerian Navy was skilled enough to build patrol ships between 10 and 38 metres in size for export. “The Nigerian Navy will no longer buy a ship of between 10 and 12 metres in size, because we have the capacity and capability to build them in our dockyard,” he said. According to him, the ship under construction is in the same class with first indigenous 31 meters patrol ship, NSS Andoni, but was redesigned and upgraded to 38 meters. He assured that the second indigenous ship would be delivered to Nigerian Navy by the dockyard for its inauguration into the fleets latest by June 2014.
Short term goals to be accomplished in the first six months of 2014 included acquiring five K13 inshore patrol vessels, ensuring operational availability of at least four Navy helicopters, establishing a Fishery Protection Patrol Squadron in collaboration with the agriculture ministry, Nimasa and other stakeholders, and improving Navy logistics and training.
Nigeria had also ordered two new OCEA FPB 98 Mk.II Coastal Patrol Craft and expected to take delivery of two more ex-US Coastguard vessels, USNS John McDonnell and USCGC Gallatin, in due course. Medium term goals (during 2014) included the acquisition of the ex-US Coast Guard cutter USCGC Gallatin, the completion and commissioning of the first Chinese-built OPV and domestic assembly of the second Chinese OPV, commissioning of the second domestic Seaward Defence Boat, completion of the refit of NNS Brass and NNS Yola and the refit of the frigate NNS Aradu, the fast attack craft NNS Siri, Ayam and Damisa.
The refit of the fast patrol boat NNS Ekpe, Ekun and minesweepers NNS Ohue and NNS Barama were also expected to be completed by the end of 2014.
In August 2015 Chief of Naval Staff Vice-Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas said most of vessels were down due to negligence on the part of the navy officers who use them. "We have more than 50 per cent of our ships down and some of the problems are avoidable. I am always perplexed at the way we handle what we call government property and the truth is that we are short-changing ourselves because the money government gives us will go back go repairing those equipment."
The Nigerian Navy is geared towards riverine law enforcement, but lacks a credible coastal enforcement capability. This is despite acquisitions of four Offshore Patrol Vessels in 2015 (NNS OKPABANA, NNS CENTENARY, NNS SAGBAMA, NNS PROSPERITY) and improvements in tactical proficiency. The Navy also lacks Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), with insufficiently networked assets and ineffective command centers. The Nigerian Navy would rely on the two Air Force ATR-42 Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft for aerial reconnaissance, bu as of 2016 both aircraft were stationed in the north of Nigeria where they take part in the campaign against Boko Haram.
The Nigerian Navy on 17 August 2016 in Lagos inaugurated 39 gun boats and 45 operational vehicles to assist the fight against criminalities in parts of the country. Of the 39 boats launched, nine were acquired from Sri Lanka and would be greatly helpful for patrol of territorial waters and the contiguous zone. Thirty of the boats were built in Nigeria. At the inauguration, Minister of State for Defence, Mohammad Dan-Ali, said the gun boats were fitted with appropriate weapons and anti-ballistic protection to enhance optimal efficiency. He said the 30 8.2 metre boats, which were constructed for the navy by Epenal Boat Yard in Port Harcourt, would be deployed for rigorous patrols in the Niger Delta while additional 20 would be delivered subsequently.
Naval acquisitions in 2019 included 20 riverine patrol boats, 20 rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) and house boats. In December 2019, the Nigerian Navy announced it had ordered an LST 100 landing ship from Damen, which is building the vessel at its facilities in the United Arab Emirates.
In mid-December 2019, Rear Admiral Beegroy Ibe-Enwo, head of policy and plans for the the Nigerian Navy, said it would receive new vessels from France, Malaysia, Vietnam and local manufacturers, adding to the 42 patrol boats and other vessels acquired in 2019. Ibe-Enwo said the new acquisitions include a 60 meter OSV 160 hydrographic survey vessel from France’s Ocea, two 40 meter fast patrol boats from Damen Shipyard in Vietnam, four Manta class boats from Malaysia’s Suncraft, one helicopter from Italy (most likely an AW109) and 15 riverine patrol boats from Nigeria’s Epenal Group. The Nigerian Navy already has 20 18 meter Manta Mk III boats in service. Ocea is also constructing two 35 meter FPB 110 fast patrol boats, a 24 meter FPB 72 fast patrol boat and four 17 meter C-Falcon interceptors for the Nigerian Navy, which has already received two FPB 110s, seven FPB 72s and a 35 meter FPB 98.
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