The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas (Admiralty Medal), on Thursday, January 1, 2026, spent the New Year Day with Armed Forces personnel deployed in the North-East, during an operational tour of the Headquarters Joint Task Force, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), Maiduguri, and the Naval Base Lake Chad (NBLC), Baga, in Borno State.
On arrival at the Headquarters OPHK in Maiduguri, the CNS was received by the Theatre Commander, Major General A.E. Abubakar, who briefed him on recent operational gains, prevailing challenges, and future plans of the Joint Task Force. The Theatre Commander highlighted the critical contributions of the Land, Maritime and Air Components, noting that seamless joint operations had significantly degraded the capabilities of terrorist groups in the theatre.
Vice Admiral Abbas commended the Theatre Commander as well as officers and men of Operation HADIN KAI for their dedication and professionalism, assuring them that identified challenges would be addressed expeditiously to enhance operational effectiveness.
The CNS later proceeded to the Naval Base Lake Chad in Baga, where he was received by the Commander of the Base, Commodore Peter Gambo Yilme. During the visit, the Chief of the Naval Staff undertook a boat ride on Lake Chad, recently cleared by the Base to restore navigation and revive economic activities in the area. He also shared a New Year meal with officers and men of the Naval Base Lake Chad and the 196 Amphibious Battalion co-located in Baga.
Before departing Baga, Vice Admiral Abbas expressed appreciation to the personnel for their sacrifices and steadfast service, noting that deployment at the extreme flank of Nigeria’s North-Eastern border was both challenging and critical to securing the nation’s territorial integrity and controlling strategic waterways.
The presence of the Chief of the Naval Staff in the North-East Theatre on New Year Day was described as a major morale booster for troops deployed in the area. The visit also underscored the CNS’ vision for the Nigerian Navy, which is “to have a mobile, agile and professional naval force dedicated to securing Nigeria’s maritime domain and advancing national security objectives in synergy with other security agencies.”
Accompanied by the Chief of Operations, Rear Admiral M.B. Katagum, and the Chief of Logistics, Rear Admiral S.H. Abdullahi, the CNS reaffirmed that the Nigerian Navy remains fully committed to denying terrorists the use of Lake Chad waterways through sustained and coordinated operations in synergy with sister services and other security agencies in the North-East Theatre of Operations.
The visit further reinforced the Nigerian Navy’s resolve to support ongoing counter-terrorism efforts and maintain pressure on criminal elements threatening peace and stability in the region.
