NEWS
Nigeria Strengthens Maritime Security with Formal Inauguration of Elite Nigerian Navy Marines, Pioneer Batch of 326 Personnel Trained by US Special Forces Graduates as “Bushmen”
Nigeria’s drive to reinforce maritime security and confront emerging asymmetric threats received a major boost yesterday, as the Nigerian Navy formally inaugurated the pioneer set of the Nigerian Navy Marines, a newly established elite force designed to bridge operational gaps between land and maritime warfare.
The historic ceremony, held at the Nigerian Navy Ultra Modern Sports Complex, Navy Town, Ojo, Lagos, was attended by senior military commanders, foreign defence partners, and key security stakeholders, marking what defence authorities described as a defining moment in the evolution of Nigeria’s maritime and special operations capability.
Speaking at the graduation of the maiden batch of 326 personnel trained by the US Special Forces, Chief of Defence Staff, CDS General Olufemi Oluyede, said the emergence of the Nigerian Navy Marines represented a decisive milestone in strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture, particularly within the strategically important Gulf of Guinea.
He said: “The establishment of the Nigerian Navy Marines is a timely evolution aimed at bridging the gap between land and sea operations and adapting our strengths to contemporary security challenges. Nigeria sits at a strategic crossroads in the Gulf of Guinea, and we have a responsibility to ensure stability within the maritime domain of the West African sub-region. The Armed Forces of Nigeria remain committed to protecting our maritime resources, coastal communities, and critical oil and gas assets essential to our national sovereignty and economic prosperity.”
While commending the Nigerian Navy leadership for sustaining institutional continuity in developing specialised capabilities, General Oluyede reminded the graduates: “You have earned your place in an elite force defined by courage, discipline, loyalty and honour. The adversities you will face will be adaptive and unconventional. Your mettle will be tested, but you must remain intellectually agile, tactically innovative and decisive. The battlespace will sometimes be vast and unforgiving, but with your level of training, I am confident you will overcome all odds.”
He urged the new force to maintain strong collaboration with sister services, security agencies, and maritime stakeholders to enhance national security.
Earlier, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Idi Abbas described the graduation as another defining moment in the history of the Nigerian Navy. He revealed that the Marines were conceived following the establishment of the Special Operations Command to boost precision operations and counter-terrorism effectiveness.
“The Nigerian Navy Marines were created as a highly trained, mobile and versatile combat force capable of securing riverine corridors, dominating neutral spaces and supporting inland operations linked to maritime theatres,” Abbas said.
“The broader strategic environment in which we operate is defined by volatility, complexity and ambiguity, with threats ranging from maritime crime and terrorism to banditry, kidnapping and violent extremism. Operational synergy between the Nigerian Navy Marines and the Special Boat Service will provide the amphibious depth and rapid response capability required across the full spectrum of naval operations.”
The Naval Chief assured that the Navy would continue collaboration with special forces of sister services and international partners through advanced training, modern equipment acquisition, and improved rapid deployment capacity to ensure sustained operational effectiveness.
Providing insight into the formation and training of the new force, Commandant of the Nigerian Navy Marines Training Centre, Commodore Olayinka Aliu, disclosed that the unit was officially established on June 1, 2025, while training of pioneer volunteers commenced on August 14, 2025.
“The graduating personnel underwent six months of intensive Special Operations Tier Two training structured to produce combat-ready operators capable of functioning across maritime, riverine, littoral and inland environments.
“The Nigerian Navy Special Boat Service, prior to the establishment of the Marines, was saddled with amphibious and littoral warfare, but competing operational exigencies overstretched the service. It became imperative to shore up the gaps in special operations across the spectrum of Nigerian Navy operations,” Commodore Aliu said.
He further explained that critical land and jungle warfare exercises conducted at Owode, Ogun State, under the supervision of US Africa Special Forces, aimed to produce personnel who are physically robust, mentally resilient, and tactically versatile.
“These competencies are essential for Marines to function effectively in demanding operational roles, whether in amphibious operations, internal stability missions or joint force engagements. The Nigerian Navy Marines training integrated modern and adaptive tactics tailored to Nigeria’s operational realities, resulting in a solid training framework and sustainable curriculum focused on progressive skills development, combat readiness and the entrenchment of Marine Corps ethos, discipline and mission preparedness.”
“The Nigerian Navy Marine Training Centre curriculum, derived from the Knowledge Exchange Programme, served as the foundational guide for the Marines Basic Qualifying Course One (BQC-1). The course was conducted in three major phases: physical conditioning (Selective Qualifying Training), land and jungle warfare, and finally amphibious operations. A fourth phase, known as the culmination phase, integrated all aspects of the training through scenario-based exercises to consolidate knowledge acquired over six months, test the critical thinking abilities of the Marines, code-named ‘Bushmen’ and assess performance under intense operational stress. Each phase concluded with specialised camps: Camp Ibere, meaning ‘Start’ in Yoruba; Camp Yaki, meaning ‘Battle’ in Hausa; and Camp Anyiemechaala, meaning ‘Mission Accomplished’ in Igbo.”
“The training was progressive and continuous, transitioning from basic individual competencies to complex collective manoeuvres. Despite operational challenges, strict discipline, operational realism and adherence to Nigerian Navy Marine core values — courage, resilience, loyalty, adaptability, honour and brotherhood, ensured successful attainment of training objectives. The six-month intensive BQC has now reached completion. Through blood, sweat, determination and resilience, these personnel have been transformed from ordinary sailors into Marines, proudly earning the title ‘Bushmen.’”
Reaffirming the commitment of the Special Operations Command, Commodore Aliu added: “Our objective is clear: to deliver a Marine force that is fully mission-capable, dependable and aligned with the operational needs of the Nigerian Navy and Nigeria’
s broader security architecture.”