The Nigerian Navy said it would soon commence the admission of female officers and ratings into its combat ships to begin a process of making combatant female officers and men.
The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral James Akinwale revealed that no fewer than 40 female rating had already commenced training at the Special Boat Services unit of the force in readiness for their new role.

Admiral Akinwale who spoke with Daily Sun shortly after a parade to mark the end of his first Biannual inspection of units under his command, said the 40 ratings would be joining the Nigerian Naval Ship (NNS) Aradu from next week.
He said the need to turn around the Order of Battle of the force to begin to admit women into its vessel was necessitated by the coming of the new naval vessel NNS Thunder, which was recently presented to the force by the United States Coast Guard.

The FOC said that the NNS Thunder already had an allowance for women hence the preparation for the female ratings to get onboard the vessel when it arrives by the end of the year.
Daily Sun also learnt the decision to have women onboard the Nigerian Navy vessel was in accordance with the directive by the Federal Government to have women train as combatants in the Armed Forces.
He said during his biannual inspection, schools in the command of the Naval Training Command were visited, particularly the Nigerian Navy School of Armament Technology in Kachia, Kaduna State and the Nigerian Navy Provost and Regulating School in Markurdi, Benue State, the Naval College Onura, Rivers State and the Basic Training School in Akaso, Rivers State.
He said that his tour of schools within the force had revealed the need to position the training within the force to meet operational challenges.

While warning officers and men against unruly behaviour, the FOC urged them to have a cordial relationship with the civil populace, adding that the Nigerian Navy was known for high discipline and diligence.
The era of democracy, he explained, required subordination to civil government especially as the force was participating in internal security duties.
He added that the new role of the navy in the participation in internal security duties requires that the force comes up with a training manual to enable them have a successful participation. so my people don't you think these ladies might be harassed sexually later as they are going to be among men that out number them 10 to 1,