No fewer than 11,000 people have applied for the opportunity to sail on a Nigerian Navy warship, highlighting overwhelming public interest in the initiative.
The Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abi Folorunso, disclosed this in a post shared on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Friday.
Reacting to the surge in applications, Folorunso expressed surprise at the turnout, noting that the number far exceeded expectations.
“So far over 11,000 persons have applied to sail on a Nigerian Navy warship!! First I must confess that I didn’t expect this number of persons,” he said.
He, however, pointed out that accommodating all applicants would not be feasible due to space constraints on the vessels.
“Challenge is we cannot get over 11,000 people onboard the limited space on the designated ships,” he added.
Folorunso further announced that the list of successful applicants would be released between May 1 and May 3, 2026.
“We will be disclosing the successful applicants between May 1-3, 2026. All applicants will need to visit @NigerianNavy and other Nigerian Navy social media platforms to check,” he said.
Recall that the Nigerian Navy announced the initiative in early April as part of activities lined up for the Navy’s annual celebration.
According to the Navy, the programme, often described as a “citizens’ sail” or open-day experience, is aimed at giving members of the public rare onboard access to naval platforms while promoting transparency and strengthening civil-military relations.
The Nigerian Navy opened an online application portal shortly after the announcement, inviting interested Nigerians to register for a chance to be selected.
The Navy also used its verified social media platforms to publicise the exercise and outline participation guidelines.
The annual celebration itself—commonly referred to as Navy Week—typically features a series of activities including ship tours, ceremonial parades, medical outreaches, and community engagement programmes across coastal states.
According to the Navy, the warship sailing experience is a relatively new addition designed to deepen public engagement and showcase naval capabilities.
The Navy noted that eligibility for the programme included basic identification requirements and adherence to safety protocols, given the sensitive nature of naval operations.
It added that participants are expected to undergo screening before boarding and comply with all onboard regulations.
The PUNCH