The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant‑General W. Shuaibu, on Saturday unveiled a cenotaph and laid wreaths at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School in Onne to honour 11 Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) naval cadets of the 41 Regular Course who died during training in 1990.
Speaking at the short, solemn ceremony attended by military officials and relatives of the deceased cadets, Lt‑Gen Shuaibu described the memorial as “an enduring tribute” to the young officers‑in‑training whose aspirations to serve the nation were cut short on 23 July 1990. He said the Armed Forces would ensure that “their sacrifice will never be forgotten.”
The COAS recalled that 23 first‑year NDA naval cadets were undergoing routine boat‑handling training at the then Nigerian Naval College, Onne, when their boat collided with a stationary jetty and capsized, resulting in the loss of 11 lives. He called the tragedy “one of the saddest chapters” in the history of military training in Nigeria.
Lt‑Gen Shuaibu said the cenotaph reinforces military traditions of honour, courage, discipline and selfless service, and will inspire future generations of officers to place national interest above self in the pursuit of the nation’s security objectives. He assured family members that the names of the fallen are permanently etched on the monument and will live on in the nation’s military history.
Representing the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice‑Admiral Ibrahim Abbas, Rear‑Admiral J. N. Mamman said the memorial was dedicated to the cadet officers who “paid the supreme price in the line of training and service.” He urged attendees to reflect on the lives lost and prayed for the peaceful repose of their souls.
The Nigerian Navy Basic Training School was commended for initiating and completing the project that will serve as a place of remembrance for armed forces personnel and the public who wish to honour the memory of the 11 cadets.
