In a significant move to restore stability and economic life to the troubled Lake Chad basin, the Nigerian Navy has announced the successful dredging and clearing of 11 kilometres of critical waterways. This engineering feat aims to improve navigability and open up routes that had become inaccessible due to insecurity and siltation.
Naval Operations Enhance Access and Security
The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, revealed this development during a visit to Maiduguri on Thursday, January 1, 2026. He stated that the Nigerian Navy Base, Lake Chad (NBLC), executed the targeted dredging to facilitate the safe movement of people and goods.
Admiral Abbas emphasized that these operations are part of a broader, sustained effort to deny terrorist groups freedom of movement and use of the lake's waterways. The Navy is working in close coordination with the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) to maintain pressure on insurgent elements in the region.
Reviving Socio-Economic Activities
The direct impact of clearing the waterways is already being felt by local communities. According to the naval chief, the improved access has enabled the safe return of fishermen, farmers, traders, and transport operators to areas they had previously abandoned.
This is fostering a gradual revival of socio-economic activities across the Lake Chad basin, a region whose economy has been severely crippled by years of terrorist activities and restricted movement.
Sustained Pressure on Terrorist Elements
Vice Admiral Abbas highlighted the Navy's key role in Operation Lake Sanity III, a focused military campaign designed to degrade insurgent logistics and ensure freedom of movement. The operation has been crucial in consolidating gains made by joint forces in the area.
Furthermore, the Navy ensures persistent Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) coverage over the region, in close collaboration with the Nigerian Air Force. This joint effort enhances situational awareness, allows for timely targeting of terrorist activities, and supports effective maritime interdiction operations.
During his visit, the CNS urged troops stationed at the Baga Naval Base to remain focused on the fight against the nation's enemies in the Lake Chad Basin. He also assured them of his commitment to their welfare and promised the deployment of additional manpower and equipment to bolster their efforts.
