Tinubu expresses sadness over death of Naval operations chief
Tinubu expresses sadness over death of Naval operations chief, Rear Admiral Musa Bello Katagum, describing the loss as a painful blow to the Nigerian Navy and the Armed Forces at a time the country is still battling oil theft, piracy risks, and wider security pressures across its maritime domain. 
In a statement issued Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu condoled with the family of the late senior officer, as well as officers and men of the Nigerian Navy and the leadership of the Armed Forces. 
Tinubu expresses sadness over death of Naval operations chief after the Navy confirmed that Rear Admiral Katagum died on Thursday following a protracted illness, bringing a sudden quiet to one of the service’s most strategic desks at Naval Headquarters. 
Navy confirms death, details illness and last trip
The Nigerian Navy, in its own announcement, said Rear Admiral Katagum served as Chief of Operations at Naval Headquarters until his death and described his contributions as instrumental to recent operational successes. 
Tinubu expresses sadness over death of Naval operations chief as additional reporting indicates the officer died in Egypt, where he had travelled for follow-up medical evaluation after undergoing surgery around September the previous year. 
While official statements have been careful not to over-dramatise the circumstances, the facts are clear: the Navy has lost a senior operational commander, and the Presidency has formally acknowledged the loss. 
Why the Chief of Operations role matters
Tinubu expresses sadness over death of Naval operations chief, and the attention is not only because of his rank, but because the office he held is one of the nerve centres of naval command.
The Chief of Operations at Naval Headquarters coordinates and oversees operational activity across the service, including tasks tied to maritime security, support to counter-insurgency efforts where needed, and protection of territorial waters and key economic assets. 
In a country where crude oil theft and pipeline sabotage have direct effects on national revenue, the operations portfolio is not ceremonial. It is the desk that translates orders into movement: deployments, patrol tempo, and the day-to-day rhythm of a Navy stretched across Nigeria’s coastline and inland waterways.
Tinubu expresses sadness over death of Naval operations chief against that backdrop, with the Presidency framing the officer’s passing as a loss to the Navy’s professional community and to national service. 
https://ogelenews.ng/tinubu-expresses-sadness-over-death-of-naval
Presidency’s condolence and the tone of the message
In the statement credited to the President’s media office, Tinubu’s condolence focused on empathy for the family and institutional solidarity with the Nigerian Navy. 
Tinubu expresses sadness over death of Naval operations chief and acknowledged Rear Admiral Katagum’s service record, speaking in the familiar language of state mourning: duty, sacrifice, and the weight of national service.
Other local reports, echoing the same statement, similarly emphasised that the President offered condolences to the Navy and Armed Forces leadership. 
Career snapshots and professional footprint
Tinubu expresses sadness over death of Naval operations chief as tributes also draw attention to Katagum’s earlier appointments, including roles in intelligence and foreign postings.
Vanguard reported that he previously served as Director of Naval Intelligence, was once Deputy Defence Adviser in Paris, and worked at the Defence Headquarters before his appointment as Chief of Operations by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abass. 
The Punch report on the Navy’s announcement also notes that he was in a strategic position responsible for coordinating operational activities nationwide, describing the office as central to maritime security and protection of economic assets. 
Tinubu expresses sadness over death of Naval operations chief, and the subtext of these career details is simple: this was an officer trusted with sensitive work, the kind that rarely makes headlines until a moment like this.
What happens next inside the Navy
Tinubu expresses sadness over death of Naval operations chief, but the Navy’s operational calendar will not pause for grief. The service will move to ensure continuity at the operations directorate, because that is how armed forces survive loss: by keeping the system running even as they bury their dead.
The Navy has not, in the statements cited in public reporting, announced a successor in the same breath as the condolence.  However, standard procedure suggests an acting arrangement may kick in immediately while formal postings are concluded.
The wider national security context
Tinubu expresses sadness over death of Naval operations chief at a time Nigeria’s maritime space remains central to security and the economy. Even beyond headline-grabbing incidents, naval operations touch everything from port security to offshore asset protection, and to the constant pressure of criminal networks that exploit waterways.
This is why the passing of a senior operations commander resonates beyond the Navy. It affects institutional memory, coordination habits, and the kind of behind-the-scenes relationships that make joint operations work.
Tinubu expresses sadness over death of Naval operations chief, and for many Nigerians, it is also a reminder that uniformed service is not only danger in the field. Sometimes it is illness, long treatment, and a quiet exit far from parade grounds. 
Conclusion
Tinubu expresses sadness over death of Naval operations chief, Rear Admiral Musa Bello Katagum, as Nigeria’s political leadership and military institutions mark the loss of a senior officer whose duties sat at the centre of naval coordination.
The condolences from the Presidency, the confirmation from the Nigerian Navy, and reports of his final medical trip all point to one fact: the Navy is mourning, and the state has formally taken notice. 
Tinubu expresses sadness over death of Naval operations chief, and the coming days will likely bring more tributes, burial rites, and the quiet operational adjustment that follows the death of a man who helped run the machinery of maritime security.
