Adams-Aliu takes charge at NNS BEECROFT, vows tougher crackdown on maritime crimes

Commodore Aiwuyor Adans-Aliu has assumed command as the 65th Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT, pledging to intensify the fight against smuggling, stowaways and other cross- border maritime offenses.

The change of command ceremony held on Wednesday at the NNS BEECROFT Conference room marked the conclusion of the tenure of Rear Admiral Paul Nimmyel, who led the naval base since February 2025.

Speaking shortly after taking over, Commodore Adams- Aliu said his
leadership would be guided by the actualisation of the Chief of the Naval Staff’s vision to develop “a mobile, agile and professional naval force dedicated to securing Nigeria’s maritime domain and advancing national security objective in synergy with other security agencies”.

He outlined his mission to reposition NNS BEECROFT in effectively fulfilling its core mandate of securing Nigeria’s economic waters, where much of the nation’s commercial activities takes place.

Noting that economic growth at sea often attracts criminal elements, Adams-Aliu warned criminal elements operating within the nation’s waterways to rethink their activities.

He assured his commitment to intensifying efforts against smuggling, stowaways, and cross-border maritime offenses, signaling a zero-tolerance approach toward criminal actors operating within and around Nigeria’s territorial waters.

“I want to use this opportunity to send a note of warning to nefarious elements.
We already have an idea of the routes and manner in which some criminal elements misuse our waterways. We know there’s a lot of smuggling activities along the flanks of our neighbouring Benin Republic, as well as incidents involving stowaways around five to seven nautical miles off the Lagos Fairway Buoy as well as cross- border maritime offences. Going forward, we intend to curb all those incidences.

“I intend to leverage on all the successes made by my predecessor, those crimes have largely been curbed but we will take it a notch higher. Our presence at sea will improve, our investigative processes will improve. We will fulfil everything we are expected to do as a base to the best of our ability, ” he assured.

Adams-Aliu, who until his recent appointment served as the Director of Naval Information, reflected on his long-standing professional relationship with his predecessor, which dates back to their cadet days at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna.

He expressed his gratitude to the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abass for entrusting him with what he described as a significant responsibility, and promised to do his best .

Commodore Adams- Aliu also acknowledged the guidance of the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral AA Mustapha, pledging to align his leadership with the strategic direction of the Nigerian Navy.

He also sought partnershio with the media to ensure effective dissemination of information, noting that as a former Director of Information, he understands the critical role of the press in national security.

In his farewell remarks, Rear Admiral Paul Ponfa Nimmyel expressed deep appreciation to officers, senior and junior ratings, civilian staff, and members of the media for their collaboration and support throughout his stewardship.

He acknowledged the demanding operational tempo required to keep NNS BEECROFT functioning at optimal capacity and expressed confidence in his successor’s ability to sustain and elevate the command’s operational standards.

Commodore Aiwuyor Augustine Adams-Aliu was born on 15 December 1977 in Lagos Nigeria. He attended Shepherd Hill Primary School Lagos from 1983 to 1988 and Kings College Lagos from 1990 – 1994. Thereafter, he proceeded to the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1995, where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry in 1999 and was commissioned into the Nigerian Navy in the year 2000 as a member of 47Regular Course.

In the course of his military career, Commodore Adams-Aliu attended several professional courses including the Captain Career Course at United States Army Infantry School, Fort Benning Georgia USA from November 2007 to June 2008. He also attended the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Nigeria for the Junior and Senior Staff Courses in 2004 and 2010 respectively.

Adams-Aliu became an erudite scholar and practitioner of Naval Warfare after graduating from the Naval War College Nigeria in 2018 and the United States Naval War College, Rhodes Island USA in 2019. Thereafter, from July 2020 to June 2021, he obtained a Master of Arts Degree in Strategic Security Studies from the National Defence University, Washington DC, USA where he won the Ambassador’s Award as the Most Outstanding International Fellow in College of International Security Affairs (CISA) for year 2021.

Adams-Aliu commenced his naval career, serving as a Watccfh Keeping Officer onboard various Nigerian Navy Ships from year 2000 to 2004. Adams-Aliu also worked in multi-cultural environment as a military observer in the United Nations Mission in Liberia from 2011-to-2012.

He was the Officer in Charge of Nigerian Navy Ship BENIN and Squadron Commander of SHALDAG Boat squadron from 2013 to 2014. He was also the Pioneer Commanding Officer, Nigerian Navy Ship KARADUWA from 2016 -to-2018 and later the Executive Officer of Forward Operating Base FORMOSO. From 2019-2020, he served as the Principal Staff Officer (navy) to the Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff.

On graduation from NDU Washington in 2021, Commodore Adams-Aliu became a Directing Staff and Member of Faculty at the Naval War College Nigeria. In the College, Adams-Aliu taught Operational Art and Campaign Planning Concepts specializing in the planning and conduct of wargames. In March 2023, he became the Commanding Officer Forward Operating Base Badagry, and was appointed Deputy Director Plans at Naval Headquarters in January 2024. Shortly after he was elevated to the post of Director Naval Information and the official spokesperson of the Navy, the appointment he held until he took over as Commander NNS BEECROFT on 11 February 2026.

His awards are; Distinguished Service Star, Passed Staff Course, United Nations Medal, Nigerian Navy Command at Sea Badge, and Distinguished Fellow of the Naval War College (dagger +). Commodore Adams-Aliu is a member of several professional bodies including Member United States Naval Institute, Associate Member Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Member Chartered Institute of Personnel Management, Member International Institute of Professional Security and Member Nigerian Institute of International Affairs.

He is married to Dr. Loretta Adams-Aliu and the union is blessed with three children- two girls and a boy. His hobbies include taking long walks, deep spiritual meditation and watching soccer.