After 36 weeks of relentless training that tested mind, body and spirit, 33 Nigerian Navy personnel have been inducted into the elite Special Boat Services. Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that their graduation not only marked the forging of elite warriors but also reinforced the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to strengthening special operations capabilities in an era of evolving security threats

After 36 weeks of gruelling drills, punishing endurance tests, and the infamous “Hell Week” that has broken many before them, only 33 out of 68 personnel who began the Basic Operating Capability Course (BOC) 19 stood tall at the Headquarters of the Nigerian Navy Special Boat Service (NNSBS) in Lagos, as they were officially inducted into one of Africa’s toughest military units.

The graduation ceremony, held last Friday, was not just a military ritual; it was a testament to resilience, sacrifice, and the Nigerian Navy’s growing emphasis on special operations in tackling Nigeria’s evolving security challenges because for 36 weeks, they were trained on counter-terrorism, counter-insurgency, hostage rescue, anti-piracy, sabotage, infiltration of enemy positions, visit-board-search-and-seizure (VBSS), survival techniques, and amphibious operations.

All these and more were also showcased at the final training demonstration where the graduands underwent  a series of intensity drills, from hostage rescue to amphibious manoeuvres, reflecting the demanding training they had undergone.

The ceremony drew an impressive line-up of senior naval officers, including the Special Guest of Honour, Flag Officer Commanding Special Operations Command, Rear Admiral O.O. Soyemi. Also present were Director Special Operations NHQ, Rear Admiral DOC Igbo; Rear Admiral IC Okpalla, CSO NAVDOC; Captain Andrew Zidon, Commander SBS; FOC West Rep, Rear Admiral Mohammed; COMD NAB, COMD JMSTC, COMD WEY, COMDT NNS QUORRA, and other senior officers from naval formations, foreign training partners including the Deputy Defence Attache US Embassy, Mr. Jacob Jones and the proud families of the graduating operatives.

Strategic Assets of National Interest 

After certificates were presented, badges pinned, and the sacrifices of retired SBS operatives recognised, the special guest of honour, the FOC Special Operations Command, Rear Admiral Soyemi captured the gravity of the moment in his address where he described the elite unit as strategic assets of national interest. 

He further highlighted that “This institution remains a critical pillar in the Nigerian Navy’s special operations capabilities, especially as we navigate the complexities of contemporary security challenges. To the graduates, I offer my heartfelt congratulations as today marks a significant milestone in your professional journey. You have endured 36 weeks of intensive training that has moulded you into elite special forces operators. 

“As mentioned earlier by your chief instructor, 68 of you were selected for the training and today, 33 of you have proved your mettle. You have demonstrated mental tenacity, physical toughness and a will consistent with special operations forces around the world. You have every reason to be proud of yourselves. 
“Such moments will call for your selfless service and sacrifices, so you must be prepared. Note that your contributions are not just to the Nigerian Navy, but also to national cohesion and development. Indeed, you are strategic assets of national interest.”

Rear Admiral Soyemi further expressed appreciation to the Chief of Naval Staff for the investment in infrastructure and the establishment of the Special Operations Command, which now coordinates all Nigerian Navy special operations.

Core of Special Operations and Adaptability to Evolving Technology 

Speaking later in an interview, Rear Admiral Soyemi placed the day in historical perspective: “You see, the history of special operations in the Nigerian Navy dates back to 2006, when the Nigerian Navy Special Boat Service (SBS) was established. Over the years, the SBS has distinguished itself, performed creditably, and won laurels both nationally and internationally.”

He revealed that in May 2025, the Navy also established the Nigerian Navy Marines alongside the Special Operations Command to fill capability gaps and coordinate special missions.

On technology, he stressed adaptability: “The SBS has been in existence since 2006, and the use of technology has never been new to its operations. Over the years, the SBS has incorporated a number of technologies, including the use of drones, and has continued to evolve. As situations develop, the SBS adapts and integrates new technologies to remain effective and relevant.”

In the SBS, We Win Before Setting Foot on the Battlefield 

For the Commander of the SBS, Captain Andrew Zidon, the graduation was proof of resilience and a testament to the support of the Chief of Navy Staff, Vice Admiral Ikechukwu Ogalla and the instructors who, he said, “stood with the trainees through thick and thin, pushing them to surpass their physical limits”.

Commending the graduates, he said: “In the SBS, we win before setting our feet on the battlefield. This clearly highlights the importance we attach to training and preparation before combat.

“These 33 trainees have weathered the toughest of storms, arrested the fear of the skies and subdued the waters of the sea. This, they have achieved through progressive, unalloyed and malleable special operations training.

“Having endured the crucible of the Hell Week, they have demonstrated the physical fitness, mental tenacity, psychological readiness and emotional toughness required to carry out duties that will be assigned to them by the Nigerian Navy.

“In the course of their training, they have expended thousands of rounds of ammunition and pyrotechnics, burnt thousands of litres of petroleum, oil and lubricant, swam kilometres at sea, and performed countless hours of high-intensity workouts.

 All components of their training modules were carefully orchestrated and tenaciously followed, culminating in today’s graduation ceremony. This training has prepared and equipped them with all the skills required to succeed in today’s dynamic battlespace.

“I have no doubt that we have succeeded in moulding an efficient and compact fighting force, ready for battle. In the words of Sun Tzu, I quote: “Victorious warriors win first, then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.”

The Special Boat Services

Modelled after the British Royal Navy’s Special Boat Service, the Nigerian SBS was established in 2006 and has trained with counterparts from the United Kingdom, the United States, and other allied nations. 

Its operators are the spearhead of the Nigerian Navy’s unconventional warfare, deployed in maritime counter-terrorism, anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Guinea, oil theft suppression in the Niger Delta, and joint counter-insurgency operations in the North-East.

Expectedly, selection into the SBS is notoriously tough and is one of the most demanding in Africa as candidates undergo extreme endurance tests, long-range swimming, survival training, demolitions, close-quarters combat, and amphibious warfare.

Therefore, for the 33 newly badged operatives, their journey is only beginning. As Rear Admiral Soyemi posited, they will soon be called upon to deploy the skills honed in months of relentless drills to real-world missions. Their sacrifices, he reminded them, are not only for the Navy but for Nigeria’s unity and security.

For families and friends who witnessed the graduation, the pride was palpable. For the Navy, it was the assurance that a new generation of warriors has been forged as warriors who “win first” through preparation before they ever face the battlefield.

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