The Nigerian Navy (NN) has expressed readiness to partner with relevant organisations that will enhance indigenous shipbuilding capacity and boost its operations to secure the maritime domain of the country.

The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, stated this when he received the Managing Director of ASELSAN Nigeria Limited, Mr Amadou Ndongo Thiam, at the Naval Headquarters in Abuja.

ASELSAN Nigeria Limited is a subsidiary of the Turkish defence giant ASELSAN, established to provide advanced defence electronics, radar, communication systems, and electro-optic solutions.

Based in Abuja, the company supports the Nigerian Armed Forces, specifically partnering with the Nigerian Air Force and Navy to enhance security and local technological capabilities.

Abbas said the Navy remains committed to partnerships that would deliver tangible technology transfer and strengthen the nation’s defence industrial base.

He reiterated the importance of structured collaborations, particularly through government-to-government frameworks, to ensure transparency, efficiency, and alignment with national security priorities, while positioning the NN for enhanced maritime security operations.

Earlier, Thiam said ASELSAN is ready to establish a long-term partnership with the Nigerian Navy, focusing on joint ventures, collaboration with indigenous shipyards, and integration of advanced defence technologies.

He highlighted the company’s expertise in unmanned systems, infrared search and track systems, integrated combat solutions, and modernisation of naval platforms.

According to the Director of Naval Information, Navy Capt. Abiodun Folorunsho, Thiam had led the delegation of the company on a visit to Naval Dockyard Limited, where ongoing construction of Seaward Defence Boats was observed to further underscore opportunities for synergy with Nigeria’s growing indigenous shipbuilding capacity.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has stressed that the optimisation of medical services within the Nigerian Army is fundamentally dependent on the integration of standardised administrative protocols and robust inter-agency synergy.

Shaibu made this known when he received the Managing Director of the Defence Health Maintenance Limited (DHML), Rear Admiral Azeeze Afolayan (Rtd), during a courtesy visit to the Army Headquarters, Abuja.

The COAS noted that as the Nigerian Army continues to conduct complex operations across the six geopolitical zones, maintaining the physical and mental readiness of the force remains a strategic priority that demands a responsive and modern healthcare framework.

Shaibu observed that retirement often introduces socio-economic vulnerabilities due to limited access to resources, stressing that the “man must survive” after a lifetime of dedicated service.

He reaffirmed that the commitment of the Nigerian Army to its retirees is a lifelong obligation, advocating for a safety net that ensures former service members are not left without financial or medical assistance.

In his remarks, Afolayan advocated for the institutionalisation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), specifically for the Human Resources and administrative departments within military medical units.

He emphasised that the functionality of healthcare delivery relies on standardised forms and operational clarity, moving away from ad-hoc processes to a more disciplined, policy-driven approach.

“The modernisation is essential to ensure that medical personnel data is accurately captured and that administrative hurdles do not impede the swift delivery of care to troops and their families nationwide,” he said.