Rear Admiral Ibrahim Shehu yesterday assumed office as the Admiral Superintendent of the Naval Dockyard Limited (NDL) after taking over from his predecessor, Rear Admiral Abolaji Orederu.
At the handover ceremony, Orederu, who had completed his 21-month tenure as Admiral Superintendent? expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve.
While acknowledging the support of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, Orederu said: “I thank God for His grace, for good health, strength, and for helping us to have a very successful tour of duty for the past 21 months at the Naval Dockyard.
“Deep gratitude goes to the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, for his support throughout my tenure. He was there to encourage and motivate us, and we are so grateful for the opportunity he gave us to be able to achieve all that we were able to achieve.”
Highlighting key achievements during his tenure, including the construction of Seaward Defence Boats Four and Five, he said it marked the first time two ships were built simultaneously at the dockyard.
“We have taken these ships to the stage of hull formation, and my successor will take it from there and complete the project,” he said.
Orederu also noted the revival of the galvanising and electroplating workshops, which had been inactive for over 20 years, and the establishment of the Naval Dockyard Gallery, a museum that preserves artefacts, past projects, and records of the dockyard’s history.
“For the first time in the history of the Naval Dockyard Gallery, we have been able to create a kind of museum where we house artefacts, past projects, ongoing projects, and everything the yard has done in the past, including records of those who have served here meritoriously,” he explained.
“Now, anybody who comes into the yard, in just five to ten minutes, will be able to see the capacity, capability, and competencies of Naval Dockyard Limited,” he added.
Orederu also initiated the Vice Admiral Oghalla Multipurpose Complex, a facility that will include a senior rates’ mess, a restaurant, a supermarket, a salon, and apartments, which he expressed confidence that his successor would complete.
On business operations, he noted that the dockyard successfully docked multiple ships, including a 130-metre vessel, marking a historic achievement, adding that the dockyard’s reputation had grown significantly.
“Now, the dockyard has a good name, a good reputation, and we have our pride of place among docking and ship repair facilities—not just in Nigeria or West Africa, but in the entire African continent,” he said.
Orederu also highlighted the dockyard’s first international contract, which involved refurbishing six ships for the Benin Republic Navy, including the first ship, BNS Penjari, which has been delivered and is operational, while two more are undergoing refurbishment.
In his words of advice to his successor, he said: “You have the man, and you have the machine, but when you look after the man behind the machine, the machine will always work.
“So we have been having that conversation, and I know that the incoming Admiral Superintendent is a good, competent, seasoned marine engineer and naval architect.
“My advice is for him to look after the officers, motivate and encourage them, and everything will go accordingly, and you will get the results that you need.”
After the handing and taking over, Rear Admiral Shehu thanked the CNS for appointing him to oversee the NDL, pledging to continue to project the NDL as a key player in shipbuilding, maintenance, and repair in Nigeria and across Africa.
He said: “I thank the CNS for the repose of confidence in appointing me as the new Admiral Superintendent of the Naval Dockyard. I also thank my immediate predecessor for the wonderful foundation he has laid, and I assure you that I will build further on his legacy.”
While acknowledging the challenges ahead, he however expressed confidence in his ability to lead the dockyard, adding that “If there are no challenges, there won’t be leadership, and the essence of leadership is to find ways to surmount the challenges.
“I assure you and the CNS that we will bring everything to bear to surmount whatever challenges come before us in the course of trying to drive the dockyard towards the vision of the CNS”.