The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla has stressed the need for the NN to leverage on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies to enhance the maintenance of NN platforms and other operational activities.
The CNS stated this during presentation of a paper by NN participants of National Defence College (NDC) Course 31, titled “Artificial Intelligence and Ship Maintenance: Strategic Options for the Nigerian Navy by 2035.
The CNS further stated that the use of AI is significantly transforming the maritime industry and the NN is embracing it to improve the availability of ships towards enhancing operational effectiveness.
He also noted that ships were increasingly becoming sophisticated with advancement in technology and incorporation of AI and other emerging technologies in their construction.
Thus, the NN must continue to adopt and integrate these technologies in order to maintain a competitive edge during operations. He therefore asserts that the paper is timely as it would invigorate the NN consciousness towards AI and other emerging technologies and their implication for operational effectiveness. Particularly, he commended the participants’ efforts at drafting a roadmap for transforming the Navy’s maintenance system into an AI-compliant system, as well as their novel suggestion of the use of the In-Transit-Hull cleaning which would save the Navy a lot of foreign exchange from docking ships for hull cleaning.
In his remarks at the event, the Commandant NDC, Rear Admiral Olumuyiwa Olotu highlighted that the presentation by NDC participants is an annual event under the College’s higher management of Defence package.
Hence, the choice of this year’s topic was deliberate considering that AI is an emerging technology that can enhance the Navy’s capabilities and efficiency in various aspects such as ships systems, weapons, networks and command and control, which makes the participants’ research work very germane. He therefore asserted that the strategies proffered by the participants would enhance the NN’s capabilities and operations, in line with Nigeria’s security objectives. The Commandant stated that the College would continue to support the NN in its efforts to ensuring a safe and secure maritime environment.
Present at the presentation were the Chief of Policy and Plans Naval Headquarters, Rear Admiral Joseph Akpan, Deputy Commandant NDC, Major General LA Fejokwu, College Secretary NDC, Air Vice Marshal TZ Dauda, other Principal Staff Officers Naval Headquarters and Members of Faculty NDC among others.