2026 GFP Report: Nigeria’s Navy Ranked Strongest In Africa, 22nd Globally

2026 GFP Report: Nigeria’s Navy ranked strongest in Africa, 22nd globally. The Nigerian naval fleet has been ranked the strongest in Africa, according to a 2026 Global Firepower (GFP) report.

The ranking is based on each country’s conventional war-fighting capability across land, sea, and air.

Nigeria shares maritime boundaries with the Republic of Benin, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, and Sao Tome and Principe, all located in the Gulf of Guinea, along an estimated 853 km coastline.

The waters also cover Nigeria’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which extends 220 nautical miles offshore and contains resources such as oil and aquatic life.

However, piracy and disputes remain persistent challenges.
Patrol boats, numbering 132, make up the bulk of the country’s 152 naval assets. The fleet is also credited with two mine warfare ships and one frigate.

Mine warfare can be deployed to deny access to strategic waterways or support siege-type operations around harbours and ports, while frigates have deep-water capabilities and can support rotorcraft.

The patrol boats consist of offshore patrol vessels, gunboats, missile boats, and fast-attack craft, designed for shallow-water operations.

The GFP report noted that Nigeria lacks aircraft carriers, submarines, corvettes, and destroyers.
Globally, the country was ranked 22nd.

In overall military strength, Nigeria was ranked third in Africa, behind Egypt and Algeria, and 33rd of 145 countries considered in the annual GFP review.

Navy Arrests

EGYPT, ALGERIA BEHIND NIGERIA IN NAVAL STRENGTH
Egypt was ranked Africa’s strongest military, followed by Algeria.

However, in terms of naval strength, Egypt was ranked second in Africa with 149 vessels and 23rd globally.
Algeria came in third place on the continent with 111 vessels and was ranked 34th globally.

Morocco and South Africa, operating 100 and 63 vessels, respectively, ranked fourth and fifth in Africa.
Tunisia, with 37 vessels, came sixth. Mozambique was seventh with 36 vessels, and Angola ranked eighth with 32 vessels.

Kenya and Eritrea occupied the ninth and 10th positions in Africa with 27 and 23 units.

President Tinubu Cooperating With American Troops To Eliminate Terrorists In West Africa, Says U.S. General

President Tinubu cooperating with American troops to eliminate terrorists in West Africa, says U.S. General. Mr Anderson said he had a meeting with Mr Tinubu in Rome last year, during which they both agreed “to work together.”

United States General Dagvin R.M Anderson has said that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is working closely with American forces to eliminate terrorists in the West African region.

Mr Anderson, the commander of Africa Command (AFRICOM), said Nigeria was a shining example among other African nations leveraging the U.S. sophisticated arsenal and “unique capabilities” in intelligence-gathering to exterminate the Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents.

The U.S. general made the statement at a digital press briefing on Tuesday when asked about AFRICOM’s counterterrorism efforts in African partner countries. He said the command wanted to expand operations in West Africa, using Nigeria as a case study.

“We’re looking at working in the west. I think a great example of that is the partnership we’ve had with Nigeria,” Mr Anderson said.
“I’d like to highlight that our partnership with Nigeria is a great example of a very willing and capable partner who requested the unique capabilities that only the U.S. can bring—with some of the ISR, some of the intelligence fusion—to bring that to bear together,” the general added.
Mr Anderson said he had a meeting with Mr Tinubu in Rome last year, during which they both agreed “to work together.”

He said the outcome of the meeting led to “increased collaboration between our nations, to include a small U.S. team that brings some unique capabilities from the United States in order to augment what Nigeria has been doing for several years.”

Boko Haram

Last month, Nigeria took delivery of heavy artillery from the U.S. government as a token of Washington’s support in the fight against terrorists.

Last year, President Donald Trumpdesignated Nigeria a country of particular concern over alleged Christian genocide and on December 25, 2025, the U.S. leader bombed major sections of Sokoto State as a symbolic “Christmas present” against Islamic extremists, he said in a statement.

Despite the airstrikes, armed groups have intensified attacks in parts of Northern Nigeria, particularly targeting vulnerable Christian communities.

EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video

EFCC arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for alleged naira mutilation in viral video. The Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,   on Tuesday, February 3, 2026  arrested a Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa over alleged Naira mutilation.

Inuwa was arrested following a viral video circulated on social media platforms where she was seen conspicuously cleaning mucus from her nose using Naira notes.

EFCC

Following the release of the viral video, the Commission swung into action by tracing and subsequently arrested her to answer questions.
She is currently being held at the Commission’s detention facility while investigation is ongoing.

The suspect will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.

Dele Oyewale
Head,  Media & Publicity
February 3, 2026