His appointment as Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) in June, 2023 by President Bola Tinubu was part of the fulfillment of thePresident’s reform promise to change the inherited unpalatable narrative about security in Nigeria by making it one of his major priorities , including the recruitment of more soldiers and police officers while paying and equipping them better. Rear Admiral was appointment as a replacement of Awwal Gambo as Chief of Naval Staff.
Born some 56 years, Ogalla, is from Ezike Igbo Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State. He is a member of the Nigeria Defence Academy 39th Regular Course where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science (B. Sc) degree in Mathematics and was awarded the sword of honour as the best naval cadet in his course.
Ogalla was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1992 and he rose to the rank of rear admiral in September 2021. In May 2000, he completed the Sub Lieutenant Technical Course (STC) of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) QUORRA. He then went to Basic Hydrography National Hydrographic School in India. When he returned to Nigeria, he took Junior and Senior Staff Courses at Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC) Jaji in November 2001 and July 2006 respectively.
He was a participant in National Defence College (NDC) Course 22 and was awarded the title of Fellow Defence College (fdc) in August 2014. As part of the course, he took part in the Masters of Science (M.Sc) Strategic Studies programme of the University of Ibadan from 2014 to 2015. He served on board many ships including Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) AMBE, NNS EKUN, NNS DELTA and NNS PATHFINDER. While on board NNS EKUN, he took part in the Economic Community Cease-Fire Monitoring Group, (ECOMOG) Operations in Liberia in 1996. ECOMOG was set up by a group of West African nations under the auspices of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to end the bloody civil war in Liberia, in August 1990.
As the Base operations officer in NNS PATHFINDER, Ogalla was responsible for coordinating anti-illegal bunkering operations as well as the entire policing duties of the base. It was interesting to note that during the period, there was a remarkable reduction in illegal activities in the maritime area within the base area of operations.
Until his new appointment, he was the DLL at the Navy Headquarters in Abuja. During his cumulative 6-year tour of duty in the Nigerian Navy Hydrographic School (NNHS), he taught geodesy, datum conversion, tidal predictions and analysis, satellite surveying, and bathymetry, among others.
As Commandant, he linked the School with Teledyn Marines, a reputable Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) in the United States, which enabled the Nigerian Navy to procure several survey equipment from the company, leading to improvements in practical training.
He was also instrumental in the review of the school’s curriculum to align with International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO) requirements. During his tour of duty in the Nigerian Navy Hydrographic Office (NNHO), Ogalla was instrumental in the localisation of tidal prediction and analysis. He participated in the FAO-sponsored Guinea Current Large Marine Ecosystem survey in 2004 and provided professional inputs during the survey and production of the NNHO charts.
His tour of duty at the Nigerian Defence College saw him contribute immensely towards the improvement of the college’s research package and also led the 2018 participants on a research study tour to China and South Korea. As DLL, his last position until his appointment in 2023 as Chief of Naval Staff, he was responsible for collating and analysing previous NN Operations and activities with the objective of drawing lessons necessary for doctrinal and operational improvements.
He is a member of the Nigerian Hydrographic Society, the Nigerian Institute of Management, the International Earth Rotation Services and also a fellow of the Occupational Safety and Health Association of the UK.
Upon his assumption of office as CNS, Rear Admiral Ogalla had predicated his vision on having a highly motivated professional Naval Force capable of shaping the security outcomes within the nation’s maritime domain and the littorals including land-based engagements in fulfillment of Nigeria’s national interest.
The Naval boss who spoke during the occasion of the 2023 Nigerian Navy Retreat held at the Naval Headquarters Abuja, had said his vision for the Nigerian Navy “is in line with the marching orders to deal decisively with all security challenges facing the country, issued by President Bola Tinubu.”
He was mindful of the fact that daunting security challenges facing the nation have devastating impact on the country and undermines its national security and development. Ogalla therefore assured that the Nigerian Navy would defend Nigeria’s maritime area of interest against all forms of threats in
Walking his talk, the CNS has not relented in giving oil thieves in the nation’s waters some nightmare. Under his leadership, the Nigerian Navy has been steered towards ensuring maritime security by conducting several operations and emplacing policies aimed at boosting crude oil production and curbing the menace of oil theft. Ogalla was commended by some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) for seizing MT PRAISEL, MT KALL and other vessels which provoked the raging media attack on him and allegations of corruption and contract splitting few months ago.
In a reaction to the criticisms, a group going by the name, Civil Society for Peace, Security and Development (CSPD) had praised the naval chief over the seizure of MT PRAISEL, MT KALL, MT TURA and MT VANNALARIS vessels allegedly used to steal the country’s crude oil. The group led by Mr. Obadiah Ovye at a press conference in Abuja said the feat spoke volumes of the resolve by Ogalla to deal the death kneel on the activities of saboteurs and oil thieves in Nigeria and their foreign collaborators.
It is interesting that the spate of clamp down on oil thieves in the Niger Delta area by the Nigeria Navy under the command of Rear Admiral Ikechukwu Ogalla has been sustained with many arrests of suspects and seizure of vessels used in the theft.