Members of the Naval Officers' Wives Association (NOWA) held a Christmas Carol and Night of Nine Lessons on Sunday, December 7, 2025, at the Naval Dockyard in Lagos, calling on Nigerians to intensify prayers for naval personnel confronting escalating security threats across maritime domains and inland battlefields. NOWA President Mrs. Fatima Abbas, wife of Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Idris Abbas, emphasized the event's dual purpose of festive celebration and spiritual solidarity amid intensified operations against oil theft, piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, and joint counter-insurgency in the North East. The gathering featuring hymns, Bible readings, and tributes honored sacrifices of over 1,962 newly inducted ratings and families enduring deployments.
Fatima Abbas highlighted NOWA's welfare initiatives, including scholarships, medical outreaches, and skill acquisition for spouses, urging continued support for troops' morale amid 2025's record seizures of stolen crude. CNS Vice Admiral Abbas praised the association's resilience, reiterating calls for humanity-focused projects that extend naval camaraderie to communities, while commending personnel's commitment to national security. Attendees prayed for safe returns, victory over ISWAP, bandits, and sea robbers, reflecting on Christmas themes of peace amid deployments.
The carol aligns with annual traditions fostering unity, with similar events planned at National Defence College and Nigerian Navy Ship KADA, underscoring family roles in sustaining operational tempo. NOWA recommitted to empowerment programs, positioning spouses as pillars amid Nigeria's multifaceted threats.