The Nigerian Navy says it has intensified efforts to boost indigenous shipbuilding capacity, revealing that five locally built vessels have been completed since 2010, while three additional vessels are currently under construction.

The Chief of Policy and Plans, Rear Admiral Akinola Olatunde, disclosed this on Thursday during a press briefing in Abuja to mark activities ahead of the Navy’s 70th anniversary.

Olatunde, who represented the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, said the Navy had made significant progress in developing local maritime engineering capacity.

“Furthermore, the Navy has embarked on shipbuilding and has constructed five vessels since 2010,” he said.

He explained that ongoing projects include a 27-metre ferry being built at the Naval Shipyard Limited in Port Harcourt for the Akwa Ibom State Government, as well as two 44.2-metre seaward defence boats under construction at the Naval Dockyard in Lagos.

He also noted that the Navy’s dockyard has expanded its capabilities to include the refitting of foreign vessels, adding that three warships belonging to the Benin Republic Navy were recently serviced, with three more currently undergoing refit.

“It might also interest you that the Naval Dockyard Limited refitted three warships for the Benin Republic Navy between 2024 and 2025,” he said.

Olatunde said indigenous shipbuilding remains one of the Navy’s key achievements, noting that the service has grown from 11 inherited vessels at independence to what it describes as Africa’s strongest naval fleet.

“From inheriting crafts from the Royal Navy to now being able to build yours… shipbuilding is one of those top things for us,” he said.

He added that the anniversary celebrations will include the commissioning of vessels by President Bola Tinubu and an international fleet review scheduled for June 1 in Lagos.

The Navy also announced a series of activities marking its 70th anniversary, including special prayers, community outreach programmes, sea experience exercises for selected civilians, and commissioning ceremonies across various formations nationwide.

Olatunde said the service will continue to expand its indigenous capacity as part of efforts to strengthen maritime security and naval operations across Nigeria’s waterways.