The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, ushered in the new year at the frontlines, conducting a high-level operational tour of the North East Theatre of Operations to solidify joint efforts against insurgency.
Arriving at the Headquarters of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), on January 1, 2026, the Naval Chief emphasised that the maritime domain of Lake Chad remains a critical frontier in the quest for regional stability.
He commended the troops for their “courage, resilience, and sacrifices,” conveying a special message of appreciation from President Bola Tinubu for recent operational victories.Abbas stressed that the era of siloed operations is over.
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He noted that the “jointness” of the Army, Navy, and Air Force is the ultimate multiplier of operational efficiency, ensuring that threats are met with a rapid and overwhelming response.
“The Nigerian Navy is committed to maintaining a robust presence on the Lake Chad waterways to support peace, security, and economic revival,” Abbas declared.
The Theatre Commander, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, briefed the CNS on the task force’s recent gains, acknowledging that the Navy’s maritime dominance has been a “key pillar” in degrading terrorist capabilities and protecting coastal communities.
A key focus of the visit was the relationship between security and economic recovery, with the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) emphasising that successful naval clearance operations had begun to restore normalcy across the region.
He noted that fishermen and farmers had returned to their ancestral lands and waters, traders and transporters had resumed the movement of goods across the Lake Chad Basin, and local economies were gradually reviving after years of disruption.
As part of the visit, the CNS carried out an extensive on-the-spot assessment of naval readiness across several locations.
In Maiduguri, he received strategic briefings at the Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) Headquarters before proceeding to Monguno Road to inspect facilities at the Naval Base Annex.
He later visited Baga, where he interacted with frontline troops at the Fish Dam, and conducted a hands-on riverine patrol on Lake Chad to assess the safety of cleared waterways.
The day ended with a New Year luncheon in Baga, during which the CNS shared a meal with personnel of the Naval Base Lake Chad Command and the 196 Amphibious Battalion.
The visit also featured a courtesy call on the Executive Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum.
The governor commended the Navy for its visible achievements in the area and called for intensified operations to ensure the sustainability of the current peace.
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In response, Abbas reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to continued collaboration, describing the service as the enduring “shield of the waterways.”
Senior military officers, including the Deputy Theatre Commander and the General Officer Commanding 7 Division, accompanied the CNS, signalling a coordinated and unified start to the 2026 security calendar.
