Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, has declared that the Nigerian Navy has ended piracy in the nation’s waters, a feat he said has boosted crude oil production and improved national revenue.

Ogalla spoke on Friday during a regimental parade held in his honour at his alma mater, the Nigerian Military School (NMS), Zaria, Kaduna State, where he also commissioned new projects and addressed the students.

According to him, since 2022, Nigeria’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) has recorded zero piracy incidents following intensified operations by the Navy under his command.

“Our determination from the onset was clear — to turn the tide against criminal elements threatening our maritime environment. I am proud to say we have achieved that. The evidence is in the elimination of piracy and the improvement in oil production,” he said.

The Naval Chief explained that crude oil theft, illegal refining and piracy had long undermined Nigeria’s economic lifeline. But through Operation Delta Sanity, launched in collaboration with sister services and maritime stakeholders, the Navy dismantled criminal networks and secured vital oil facilities.

“These operations have restored confidence in our maritime environment. Revenues have gone up, and investors now see Nigeria as a safer maritime hub. That is the strategic value of what we are doing,” he added.

Ogalla stressed that protecting Nigeria’s oil assets is both a military responsibility and a national duty, noting that oil remains the country’s main revenue source.

He praised officers and ratings across naval formations for their sacrifices, which he said restored stability in Nigeria’s waters.

“I salute the gallant officers and men whose dedication has made these successes possible. Their sacrifices are the foundation of the stability we now enjoy,” he said.

The CNS, who described the event as an emotional homecoming, said NMS shaped the foundation of his discipline and leadership.

“It is with a deep sense of honour and nostalgia that I return here today, not just as Chief of Naval Staff but as a proud product of this great institution,” he said.

Ogalla commissioned a block of six classrooms equipped with smart boards and other learning aids, saying it was his contribution to academic excellence. He also pledged to strengthen collaboration between NMS and the Nigerian Navy Military School, Ikot Ntuen, Akwa Ibom.

The Commandant of NMS, Brigadier-General Owoicho Ejiga, hailed the visit as historic, saying it would inspire students and reinforce the school’s tradition of discipline and excellence since its establishment in 1954.

Ejiga noted that the projects commissioned, coupled with other interventions, would transform NMS into a modern centre of patriotism, learning and military training.