Rita Enemuru, Reporting
THE Nigerian Navy’s Central Naval Command has officially elevated the fight for digital dominance to the forefront of military strategy, declaring the cyber domain as critical to national security as the land, sea, and air.
This declaration came during the closing ceremony of the Command’s inaugural Intra-Command Communication and Cyber Security Competition, held at NNS DELTA.
In a stark assessment of modern threats, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Central, Rear Admiral SD Ibrahim, through his opening remarks, warned that the battle for information is now a decisive factor in military operations.
”The side that controls information, and protects its networks, gains a decisive advantage,” the FOC stated, citing global conflicts where GPS jamming and cyber attacks have disabled military logistics and port systems.
The competition, which saw communicators and cyber operators from across the command compete in rigorous exercises, was designed to sharpen skills that are increasingly vital for operational success.
A representative highlighted the domestic relevance of these threats, pointing to the use of encrypted communication by bandits, the role of crypto donations in the 2020 #EndSARS protests, and the sophisticated tactics employed by “yahoo boys” to attack financial institutions.
”The most secured moment was a while ago; a lot is continuously happening in the cyber domain. We must stay ahead to guarantee the security of our cyber systems,” the FOC, who was represented by the Commander NNS Delta, Commodore Shehu Tasiu, added.
The event concluded with a call for the operators to remain vigilant and technically sound.
”Whether you are going home with a trophy or not, you are all winners,” the FOC noted. “The real competition begins after today—in the field, on patrol, and in defence of our networks.”
The competition was lauded as a resounding success, with the Navy promising continued investment in digital warfare capabilities to safeguard the nation’s maritime environment and communications infrastructure.
