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… as FOC pledges support to NOWA activities
By: Okosun Dennis
It was an epoch making event at the Headquarters, Western Naval Command, Apapa, Lagos on Thursday, 30th April, 2026, as the National President, Nigerian Navy Officers’ Wives Association (NOWA) and wife of the Chief of Naval Staff, Mrs Aisha Abbas, laid the foundation stone of the Nigerian Navy Officers’ Mess and the Boat club.
The NOWA President, who was on familiarization visit to the premier command with a retinue of her members, was briefed by the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abubakar Mustapha, lauding the association for its invaluable contributions at the home front during their husband’s absence.
The NOWA President with her entourage, also paid a courtesy visit on the Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship Beecroft, Commodore Aiyuwor Adams-Aliu in his office, as she urged the command to do more for a secured maritime domain.
In his welcome remarks, the FOC said that NOWA has continued to be a critical enabler to their operational success as they have continued to stabilize the home front, noting that an unstable home front would not translate to effectiveness at sea.
“We know that the sacrifices you make as go out for long months. Sometimes, we stay away from the family and you hold the home front. That has helped us to be able to meet most of the mandate given to us as a force.
While commending their contribution in welfare and human capacity development, Mustapha noted that welfare, which is one of the core roles of NOWA, aliens with one of the pillars of the Chief of the Naval Staff Command philosophy.
“NOWA has bridged the gaps in education, healthcare, and empowerment programmes, an act he added, has been very impactful across all units and establishments.
Extrapolating on how the service has been able to deal with the nuisance value of maritime crimes, Mustapha observed that they’ve continued to leverage on technology using the Maritime Domain Awareness Facility provided by the Nigerian Navy, which is domiciled in the command – the Falcon Eye and the Regional Maritime Awareness Capability System – and intelligence to drive their operations.
The FOC further disclosed that most crimes happen at the community level. Therefore, on assumption of office, he engaged the community leaders and the traditional institutions.
“The command has continued to contribute meaningfully in safeguarding Nigerian maritime domain and protecting its critical national assets and infrastructure, as well as promoting national security in synergy with other security agencies and stakeholders.
On the protection of the maritime space, “I adopted the 4D doctrine, which is to detect, deter, disrupt, and deny any criminal activity in the maritime domain, ” Mustapha reiterated.
In her remarks, the NOWA National President, Mrs Aisha Abbas commended the Flag Officer Commanding for the warm reception accorded her and her members. “Your care and passion for humanity is very obvious through the diverse way you have been supporting the association.
“Our association remains resolute in its commitment to supporting the families of our personnel, recognizing the important role they play in upholding the spirit of unity and resilience within the naval community,” she explained.
As part of the activities rounding off the event, there was a commemorative planting of trees by the NOWA President and the NOWA Chairperson, Western Naval Command, Mrs Mustapha as a symbolic mark of the familiarization visit to the Command.
