Nigerian Navy Marines
| Nigerian Navy Marines | |
|---|---|
| Active | 2026 – present |
| Country |  Nigeria |
| Branch |  Nigerian Navy |
| Type | Marines (Special Operations Tier 2 Force) |
| Role | Amphibious warfare Special operations |
| Size | Regiment |
| Part of | NN Special Operations Command |
| Nickname | "Bushman" |
| Mottos | Courage and Resilience |
| Commanders | |
| Commander-in-Chief | .svg.png){kind=small} President Bola Ahmed Tinubu |
| Chief of the Naval Staff | Vice Admiral Idi Abbas |
| Insignia | |
| Identification symbol | |
The Nigerian Navy Marines is a component of the Nigerian Navy that serves as a special operations-capable naval infantry force.
History
Origins
The 3 Marine Commando Division of the Nigerian Army under Colonel Benjamin Adekunle dates to the Nigerian Civil War, the first Nigerian troops to be known as "Marines".[1][2] This formation, consisting of elements of the Lagos garrison along the eastern seaboard, was originally designated the 3 Infantry Division.[3] However, Colonel Adekunle did not think the name "3 Infantry Division" did it project the nature of the unique terrain in which his troops had to fight. Therefore, without formal approval from Army HQ, he renamed it the 3 Marine Commando (3MCDO).[4] Adekunle's 3MCDO participated in the Bonny Landing, the first amphibious operation by a modern Black African armed force in history.[5]
Attempts to create marines
In November 2024, the "Nigerian Marine Corps Bill (HB 225)" was introduced in the 9th Nigeria National Assembly by the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Navy and the Representative for Kanke/Pankshin/Kanam in Plateau State, Yusuf Adamu Gagdi. The bill sought to establish a specialized maritime enforcement agency—modeled after the United States Marine Corps and the Republic of Korea Marine Corps. During a legislative public hearing however, the bill faced widespread rejection from lawmakers, the Nigerian Navy, and maritime stakeholders, with 67 lawmakers preventing the bill from moving forward.[6][7]
Modern Marines
For many years, the Special Boat Service was solely responsible for special operations and marine warfare. The escalating Oil theft in Nigeria overstretched the SBS, forcing a solution to fill the present operational vacuum. As a result, the Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla authorized the creation of a permanent marine unit on June 1, 2025, under the control of Nigerian Navy Special Operations Command.[8] On August 14, 2025, the inaugural batch of marine began a their training program, with 326 of the graduating in February 2026, earning the title of "Bushmen".[8][9]
Structure
Training is done at the Nigerian Navy Marines Training Centre, currently under the leadership of Centre Commandant, Commodore Olayinka Ayodele Aliu. It is host to the Basic Marines Qualifying Course, divided into three distinct phases:[10]
- Selective Qualifying Training, culminating in Camp Ibere (“Start” in Yoruba)
- Land and Jungle Warfare, culminating in Camp Yaki (“Battle” in Hausa)
- Amphibious Warfare and Maritime Interdiction, concluding with Camp Anyiemechaala (“Mission Accomplished” in Igbo)
Equipment
See also
References
- ↑ General Olusegun Obasanjo, 'My Command: An Account of the Nigerian Civil War 1967–70,' Heinemann, Ibadan/London/Nairobi, p.18 (Via Joint Services Command and Staff College Library)
- ↑ Obasanjo, My Command, Prestige (paperback), 1980, 83–84.
- ↑ Obasanjo, 'My Command,' Heinemann, Ibadan/London/Nairobi, 1980, p.45-6
- ↑ Makinde, Adeyinka. "Colonel Benjamin Adekunle Tours the Liberated Village of Ediba, Nigerian Civil War, April 1968". Youtube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-18. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
- ↑ Makinde 2024, pp. 335.
- ↑ Chapi Odekina, Gift (2024-11-18). "67 Reps, Navy, NIMASA, others reject Marine corps bill". Vanguard News. Retrieved 2026-06-14.
- ↑ Okon, Victor. "Galaxy Television | Reps Call For Marine Corps Establishment". Galaxy Television. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
- 1 2 Usman, Evelyn (2026-02-28). "Nigerian Navy inaugurates first Marines to boost maritime, land security". Vanguard News. Retrieved 2026-06-14.
- ↑ Reportcircle (2026-02-27). "CNS, CDS, COMMANDANT ALIU RAISE 328 ELITE 'BUSHMEN' AS NAVY ACTIVATES SPECIAL MARINE REGIMENT". Retrieved 2026-06-12.
- 1 2 Ijeoma, Nzeadibe. "Nigerian Navy launches Marine Corps, deploys operational battalion - Military Africa". Retrieved 2026-06-14.
Sources
- Makinde, Adeyinka (2 July 2024). "The Bonny Landing: The anatomy of Black Africa's first amphibious operation, July to September 1967". The Mariner's Mirror. 110 (3): 335–349. doi:10.1080/00253359.2024.2371202. SSRN 4531431. Retrieved 28 November 2025.