Positioning Naval Dockyard as a Force Multiplier in Building Regional, Continental and Global Capacity for SeaPower Projection 

When the Naval Dockyard Limited was set up many decades ago as the Naval Hub of Engineering, its key derivatives were to enhance Nigeria’s strategic self-reliance in maintaining naval vessels, develop expertise, and embark on design and building of ships and craft in support of the nation’s continental and global maritime seapower projection and its Blue Economy. Over the years, those capacities have yielded result with countless constructions including the three indigenously built vessels for the Nigerian Navy with two new ones in the offing. Recently, the Naval Dockyard positioned itself as a regional power and perhaps continental and even global in the nearest future, with the agreement signed last week with the Benin Republic Navy to dock and repair six of their war vessels. Chiemelie Ezeobi, who witnessed the historic move, reports 

The role of the Nigerian Navy (NN) as a regional seapower came to bear last week when the Naval Dockyard Limited (NDL), its Naval Hub of Engineering, signed a strategic and historic agreement with Benin Republic Navy to dock six of its Naval platforms for repairs, the overarching objective being to enhance the holistic security of the Gulf of Guinea waters, especially the

Multinational Maritime Coordination Centre (MMCC) Zone E that is made up of Nigeria, Benin Republic, Togo and Niger Republic. 

According to the Admiral Superintendent NDL, Rear Admiral Abolaji Orederu, it was also an evidence of the capabilities of the dockyard. While all the repairs will take place at the Naval Dockyard in Lagos in 10 months, some officers of the Beninois Navy would also be trained on a knowledge transfer basis. 

Witnessing the historic signing were Minister Economic/ Commercial Matters, Embassy of Nigeria in Benin Republic, Ambassador Saidu Tiggi; his Defence and the Deputy Defence Attache; Director of MMCC Zone E, Commodore Aniedi Ibok; NDL General Manager Finance, Captain O. Akinyede; and Information Officer, Lieutenant Commander Priscilla Iyoriovbe, as well as other naval officers and the Nigerian press. 

Positioning the NDL for Regional, Continental Expansion 

As part of its move for regional and even continental expansion, Orederu, in his speech, said the NDL has “demonstrated capacity and willingness to dock six Republic of Benin Navy patrol boats namely BNS PENDJARI, BNS OUEME, BNS ALIBORI, BNS ZOU, BNS MATELOT BRICE KPOMASSE and BNS COUFFFO for repairs. 

“As a capable and responsible indigenous registered company, this bold step is aimed at positioning the Naval Dockyard as a strategic player in shipbuilding and repairs as well as offshore construction and maritime support service provider within Nigeria, the West African region and the African continent as a whole. 

“It is further noteworthy that docking and repairing the vessels in the Yard represents a significant milestone in improving our collective regional capacity in maritime security and military cooperation between both navies and nations. 

“It is on this basis that I would like to state that the Yard is committed and more than ready to execute the docking and repair of the vessels to restore them to optimum levels in line with the scope of work specified in the contract.”

Expressing pleasure at the contract, he added that he was confident it would strengthen international relations as well as mutual trust between the Nigerian Navy and Benin Navy, with several prospects for promoting bilateral relations between both countries. 

Expectedly, he said this project is also expected to engender patronage from other navies within and outside the region as well as establish the Yard as a regional hub for ship construction and maintenance, paving the way for greater achievements. 

In his remarks, the Beninois Chief of Naval Staff, Captain Jean Le’on Olatoundji, recently promoted to Colonel Major, who commended the NN, said his confidence came from having seen what was done when he was invited to the 66th NN anniversary in Lagos and he inquired about the possibility of  extending same to his warships. 

He said: “Already, the Nigerian Navy has been the major force of patrol in our block in the Gulf of Guinea and once our   ships are repaired, they would also be deployed to support that effort and keep maritime crimes at bay. 

“This refurbishing will really impact Benin Navy.  This partnership is one of its kind and it will really impact Benin Navy and boost the maritime economy of the region.”

Naval Dockyard as Force Multiplier

Stressing that the NDL stands proudly as a strategic national asset of Nigeria and a force multiplier to cater for the defence maritime needs in the construction, maintenance and repair of naval platforms, Orederu said they also extend these services to the larger maritime/merchant community to promote and sustain Nigeria’s maritime sector towards enhancing national security.

He said: “The NDL’s activities and achievements have stimulated indigenous shipbuilding and maintenance and facilitated enhanced local content for self reliance and national development. 

“To this end, the yard provides comprehensive engineering services to numerous clientele that cut across the military, government agencies and the private sector, standing out as an institution propelling Nigeria’s maritime sector to greater heights while significantly contributing to cordial international relations and diplomacy.”

Strategic Positioning of NDL by Vice Admiral Ikechukwu Ogalla

Although past Chiefs of Naval Staff paid adequate attention to the Naval Dockyard as evidenced by all that has been achieved in the past, the current administration of Vice Admiral Ikechukwu Ogalla has also witnessed significant boost with the recent move being the regional incursion and capability. 

Under Vice Admiral Ogalla, the NDL has recorded extensive successes and it perhaps explained why Rear Admiral Orederu was so effusive in reiterating the immense support he has received in discharging his responsibilities. 

At Benin Republic, it was no different. According to him, the formal signing of  the contract agreement between the NDL and the Republic of Benin Navy was mandated and approved by Vice Admiral Ogalla.

He once noted that they derive their vision, mission, and ideas from the direction of the CNS to reposition the Nigerian Navy to greater heights to attain their constitutional roles, especially as  his foresight and uncommon leadership, has ultimately inspired their remarkable progress.

Just last July, with support from the CNS, the NDL headed by Rear Admiral Orederu and Dateline Energy Services Limited led by Wilson Opuwei, entered a partnership contract agreement for the construction of 4,000 metric tons Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LPG, Coastal Gas Transportation Barge, the first of its kind in Africa. 

This significant milestone has not only  spurred growth of Research and Development (R&D), indigenous vessel construction and local content development but according to Ogalla, has stood the NDL tall. 

For Orederu, the collaboration will yield pave way for future endeavors in oil and gas vessel construction, R&D, and local content development within the maritime and energy sectors. 

Soon after in August, to curb illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the country’s coastal waters perpetrated majorly by foreign fishing trawlers, the NN handed over six Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) riverine patrol boats it designed and constructed for use by fisheries officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Handing over the boats to the Director, Special Duties, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Fausat Lawal, at NDL, the CNS said the six GRP boats were part of the first steps the Navy made towards localising ship construction and maintenance, adding that they typified a transformation that has led to building naval vessels, local capacity and self-reliance in the country.

Even though the contract was initiated, planned and executed by Rear Admiral Orederu while serving in the Yard as the General Manager Plans, it came full circle under the CNS who handed it over to the ministry. 

How the Naval Dockyard was Established

So how did the force multiplier known as Naval Dockyard come into being? According to reports, in 1965, the Federal Government of Nigeria, in a bid to acquire and exercise sea power, embarked on a strategic investment by acquiring the Elder Dempster Lines Shipyard, which was transferred to the NN.

However, even when it was commissioned in 1969 as the Nigerian Naval Dockyard (NAVDOC), its capabilities were still limited to 200-ton craft while the bigger vessels were sent abroad for major and minor refits at exorbitant costs in hard currency.

Looking inwards Messr Adejumo, Ogunsola and Partners (AOP) in 1973 carried out feasibility studies and in August 1990, the new facilities were partially commissioned to handle up to 10,000-ton vessels until in 1997 when  twin docks each capable of handling up to 250-tons vessels was commissioned. 

In May 2013, the dockyard was re-branded as Naval Dockyard Limited on incorporation as a Limited Liability Company to  reposition it as a strategic player in the oil and gas, shipping, offshore construction and maritime sectors of the Nigerian economy. 

Operating as a Limited Liability Company, it pays tax to government while contributing its quota to technological development in the Maritime Sector. 

Success Stories

The NDL is the premier logistic facility of the Nigeria Navy which caters for third line or depot maintenance of ships and what better way to tell its success stories than that of the three indigenously built Nigerian Navy Ships (NNS) ANDONI, KARADUWA, and ODIA.

Presently, it is on the verge of building two more, including a 41 metre Seaward Defence Boat (SDB), the third in the series, which demonstrates the immense potential NDL possesses in the shipbuilding/repair business.

But beyond this, the Yard has also built several tugboats and barges that have been employed in the navy, maritime as well as oil and gas sector. 

According to Orederu, the Dockyard has demonstrated capacity by constructing three SDBs, over 100 riverine patrol boats, constructing and maintaining of houseboats, constructing self-propelled barges, repair of vessels both military and merchant ships, and constructing GRP boats and numerous maritime engineering construction as well as oil and gas platforms/assets currently performing optimally within Nigeria’s maritime space.

Similarly, the Yard is a leader in the fabrication of steel and aluminium for the telecoms, banking, manufacturing and oil services industry. In fact, NDL has earned a reputation as a major player in Nigeria’s Maritime business.

 It however plans to expand by partnering reputable shipbuilding firms around the world who can inject the needed funds required to move NDL to the next level. Presently, the core activity of the company is shipbuilding and ship repair of vessels of up to 30,000 tons, as well as building of various metal constructions needed for the repair of ship and shipbuilding.

Guiding Philosophy, Services of NDL

With a guiding philosophy to be a quality oriented organisation that harnesses key competencies to reduce Nigerian vessels dependence on foreign shipyards, the Dockyard offers services like shipbuilding where its expertise as 

 foremost shipbuilding and fabrication yard in Nigeria is undoubted in building, maintaining, repairing of Naval/Merchant vessels as well as developing expertise in design/building of ship and crafts.

Through its Carpentry workshop, it extends services like carpentry, joinery and cabinet works, seasoning and painting of wood. Not done, at its Foundry section, they boast of facilities to cast non-ferrous material, which is equipped with electric furnaces for melting, casting, moulding, and heat treatment.

With a mind for potential diversification, the Naval Dockyard Limited, also has an Electronic and Electrical workshop while at the Design and Engineering, the former caters for the production of various conceptualised designs.

Also, as part of the support services to enable the Yard function effectively, some facilities have been put in place to provide support services like the well equipped medical centre including a Dialysis section.

Given its Mission to provide innovative product solutions for sustainable progress, the recent incursion into regional capabilities with potentials for continental and global expansion, has reaffirmed the position of the Naval Dockyard Limited as a strategic national asset of Nigeria and a force multiplier to cater for the defence maritime needs in the construction, maintenance and repair of naval platforms.