Odita Sunday 
Most people think of the sea as a place for leisure, boat cruises, sailing, or quiet escapes. Yet beyond that calm surface lies a force that quietly sustains everyday life.
The sea is a powerful engine of national economic development, serving as both a highway for global trade and a source of vital natural resources.
Over 90% of global trade moves by sea, powering economies, supply chains, and livelihoods. But these lifelines don’t secure themselves.
This is where the Navy comes in.
A capable and well-utilized Navy does far more than fight wars, it protects a nation’s economic heartbeat and here is how.
The Navy secures *Trade Routes*: Without safe sea lanes, imports stall, exports shrink, and economies suffer, often without a single shot fired.
The Navy protects *Maritime Resources*: Oil, gas, fisheries, and seabed minerals lie within national waters. Without enforcement, they remain vulnerable to illegal exploitation. A Navy ensures these resources translate into real national value and utilized for the nation rather than a few.
The Navy deters threats *Through Presence*: Naval power is as much about prevention as it is about action. A credible maritime force shapes behavior and preserves stability long before conflict begins.
He who controls the seas influences the flow of energy, food, and commerce. Lose that control, and the consequences ripple across economies. The world today is already feeling the effects of disruptions around critical maritime chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz.
As I reflect on this, I look forward to developing these ideas into broader academic work in the future.
I am proud to belong to a Navy that is evolving beyond being just a fighting force, to becoming a key contributor to national economic growth.
From shipbuilding to the repair of both military and merchant vessels as well as production of her own charts, this is a force positioning itself for the future beyond combat..
At 70, this is no small stride. I am optimistic that in the near future, the Nigerian Navy will stand tall among the world’s respected maritime forces.
I am proud to belong to this Navy.
God bless the Nigerian Navy.
God bless the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Uche Monye
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