Flag Officer Commanding Central Naval Command Rear Admiral Suleiman Ibrahim has urged officers and ratings to sharpen their communication and cybersecurity skills, warning that cyberspace has become the fifth domain of modern warfare and that whichever side controls information and protects its networks holds a decisive advantage.
Speaking, through Commander of Nigerian Navy Ship Delta Commodore Shehu Mohammed Tasiu, at the opening of a two day Central Naval Command intra command communication and cybersecurity competition at NNS Delta in Warri, Ibrahim said modern wars are no longer confined to land, sea and air, pointing to recent global conflicts where GPS jamming and disrupted military communications have stalled entire operations, and where cyberattacks have shut down critical port systems, compromised naval logistics and even seized control of unmanned systems. Closer to home, he noted that bandits now rely on encrypted communication tools and digital tactics to evade law enforcement, recalling how crypto donations helped sustain the 2020 EndSARS protests and how cybercriminals commonly known as yahoo boys use technology to attack financial institutions, arguing that in cybersecurity the most secure moment has already passed because so much continues to happen in the cyber domain in real time, meaning the Navy’s communicators and cyber operators must be the sharpest in the field to stay ahead.
Commodore Tasiu thanked Ibrahim for approving and funding the competition, saying the investment would sharpen skills and directly improve operational effectiveness across the command’s area of responsibility, and praised the organisers for the meticulous planning that made the event possible, while charging the board of umpires to remain fair, transparent and objective, since the competition’s credibility rests on their professionalism. He urged participants to take the exercise seriously, framing it not merely as a contest but as an opportunity to test competence, learn from one another and raise the overall standard of communication and cybersecurity across the command. Closing the competition the following day, Ibrahim said the two days had showcased professionalism, teamwork, innovation and healthy rivalry, proof that the command’s communicators and cyber operators are ready to face the challenges of modern warfare, where information dominance and network security determine success or failure, and reminded participants that the real competition begins in the field, on patrol and in defence of naval networks, urging them to remain vigilant, adaptable and technically sound.
