Nigerian Naval dockyard relaunches Benin Republic warship BNS Couffo after extensive repairs

The Nigerian Navy has achieved a significant milestone in regional maritime collaboration with the successful completion and relaunch of the Republic of Benin’s naval warship, BNS Couffo, at the Naval Dockyard in Victoria Island, Lagos.

Speaking at the relaunch ceremony, the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla—represented by Chief of Naval Engineering, Rear Admiral Baratuaipri Iyalla—described the refurbishment as a landmark achievement.

He noted that the comprehensive upgrade will greatly enhance BNS Couffo’s operational readiness and capability to effectively tackle emerging maritime threats.

With the extensive overhaul, BNS Couffo is now fully equipped to undertake a wide range of critical operations, including robust maritime patrols, sustained surveillance, and essential search-and-rescue missions, significantly bolstering Benin’s naval capabilities.

This project is part of a broader agreement signed in 2023 between the Republic of Benin Navy and Nigeria’s Naval Dockyard Limited for the repair of six Beninese naval ships.

The program was strategically divided into two phases, with three vessels in each. While BNS Pendjari has already rejoined the fleet following its repairs, BNS Couffo was officially relaunched yesterday, and BNS MBK, the third vessel in Phase One, is nearing completion, demonstrating consistent progress.

Vice Admiral Ogalla commended the strong partnership between both countries, describing the event as a celebration of regional cooperation in maritime security.

He also highlighted the Naval Dockyard’s expanding capabilities, noting that over the past two decades it has successfully repaired more than 110 naval and commercial vessels and trained over 1,200 marine engineers and technicians, significantly contributing to human capacity development in the region. In 2024 alone, the facility docked 10 Nigerian Navy vessels and 17 merchant vessels, showcasing its robust operational capacity. “This progress places Nigeria at the forefront of maritime industry advancement in Africa,” Ogalla added.

The CNS urged the Naval Dockyard to continue leading as a center of excellence in ship construction and maintenance, not only on the continent but globally.

In his remarks, Captain Hounkpatin Dossa of the Benin Navy expressed deep appreciation to the Dockyard’s management and technical teams for their exceptional professionalism and dedication in restoring BNS Couffo to optimal condition.

Representing the CNS of Benin, Commander Wencetas Gbaguidi emphasized that the upgraded vessel would significantly boost Benin’s maritime security efforts, including combating piracy, illegal fishing, trafficking, and other cross-border maritime crimes.

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He further announced that three additional Beninese naval vessels, scheduled for the second phase of repairs, would soon be brought to the Dockyard, signalling continued trust and collaboration. “This collaboration demonstrates what West African navies can achieve through unity. As navies, we must continue to share knowledge, build capacity, and stand together in defending our shared maritime domain,” he added, also calling on the crew of BNS Couffo to maintain the ship with utmost professionalism and pride.

Earlier, Rear Admiral Ibrahim Shehu, Admiral Superintendent of the Naval Dockyard Limited, detailed the extensive work done on BNS Couffo, which included:

• Cropping and re-plating of damaged hull sections.
• Replacement of stanchions and reconstruction of degraded deck fittings.
• Major overhaul of main engines, generators, gearboxes, and steering systems.
• Full refurbishment of propulsion controls, rudder systems, air-conditioning, firefighting, seawater, sanitary, and firemain systems.

“These comprehensive repairs have effectively restored BNS Couffo to near-new condition, ensuring it is fully equipped to meet modern operational demands,” Shehu affirmed.

The successful relaunch marks a critical step forward in regional naval cooperation and underscores the role of Nigeria’s Naval Dockyard as a strategic hub for maritime maintenance and engineering excellence in West Africa.