Written by
Ishioma Appiah-Yeboah
More than 2,200 Nigerians have experienced naval operations firsthand through the Nigerian Navy’s landmark “Sail with the Nigerian Navy” initiative held as part of activities marking the Navy’s 70th Anniversary celebrations.
The programme, which opened naval ships to civilians for the first time on such a scale, attracted massive nationwide interest, with over 18,000 applications received through an online registration platform.
Following an electronic raffle process, successful applicants were selected to participate in the exercise across Lagos, Port Harcourt, Warri, and Calabar.
According to the Nigerian Navy, 725 civilians embarked on sea trips aboard nine naval ships, while another 1,000 visitors took part in guided tours and static fleet displays onboard naval platforms.
Participants were given a rare opportunity to witness naval operations up close, tour sections of warships, observe safety drills, and interact directly with naval personnel.
Speaking on the initiative, the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, said the programme reflects the Navy’s commitment to strengthening civil-military relations and improving public understanding of maritime security operations.
Also speaking, the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral A. Mustapha, described the exercise as a platform for building trust, transparency, and stronger national ownership of maritime security efforts.
Despite heavy rainfall in Lagos, the initiative recorded an overwhelming turnout, highlighting growing public interest in the activities of the Nigerian Navy and its role in protecting Nigeria’s maritime domain.