Joe Aikhomu

Rear Admiral Joe Aikhomu was a Nigerian naval officer who served as the Chief of Naval Administration from 2010 to 2012. He joined the navy in 1975 and rose through the ranks to become a rear admiral in 2008. He participated in various peacekeeping and maritime operations, such as the ECOMOG West Africa mission and the United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission. He was also a member of the investigative panel on arms procurement between 2007 and 2015, set up by President Muhammadu Buhari. He was considered a mobile encyclopedia on maritime operations and logistics in the Gulf of Guinea region. He was credited with successfully controlling the crime-ridden Calabar waters, which improved the trans-border trade between Nigeria and some ECCAS countries, especially Cameroon. He retired from the navy in 2012 and became the chairman of Ocean Marine Solutions, a company founded by his late brother, Admiral Augustus Aikhomu, and businessman Captain Hosa Okunbo. He died on February 25, 2021, in Abuja, allegedly from Covid-19 complications. He was 65 years old. He was survived by his wife and children. He was buried in his hometown of Esan, Edo State, with full military honors. He was mourned by his family, friends, colleagues, and the navy community. He was described as a profoundly decent man, a dedicated officer, and a loyal friend.