Nigeria, France Inaugurate Naval Exercise to Boost Security in Gulf of Guinea

The Nigerian and French Navies have inaugurated a joint maritime exercise to strengthen security in the Gulf of Guinea and combat piracy, illegal fishing, oil bunkering and other maritime crimes.

The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, flagged-off the six-day exercise, tagged ‘Grand African NEMO 2026’, in Onne, Rivers, on Thursday.

The exercise will feature the deployment of five Nigerian Navy warships, two helicopters, two unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) and personnel from the navy’s Special Boat Service (special forces).

Abbas represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Navy Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the exercise aimed to consolidate the achievements recorded in the region.

He said the exercise involved the Nigerian navy’s three operational commands in collaboration with the French navy and other allied partners.

Abbas said the exercise was designed to enhance freedom of navigation, improve maritime surveillance and strengthen collective efforts to secure Nigeria’s maritime environment.

“The Nigerian leg at this year’s exercise is being hosted in Central Naval Command’s area of responsibility.

“It involves a multifaceted deployment of the three Nigerian navy operations commands for the freedom of navigation in Nigeria’s maritime environment including the Gulf of Guinea,” he said.

He added that the exercise would address piracy and armed robbery at sea, human trafficking, illegal oil bunkering and fishing, and the trafficking of weapons and narcotics.

Senior Nigerian Navy officers during the deployment for Exercise Grand African NEMO 2026, organised to combat maritime crimes in the Gulf of Guinea
According to him, the exercise will enhance surveillance of Nigeria’s Exclusive Economic Zone and demonstrate the navy’s capacity to protect the nation’s waterways and the wider Gulf of Guinea.

Abbas described Nigeria’s maritime domain as strategically important to national security and economic development, given its abundant natural resources.

He however, noted that illegal activities continued to threaten these resources, underscoring the need for sustained cooperation and capacity building among security agencies and partner navies.

“Although, the Nigerian navy and other security agencies have recorded successes in combating maritime threats, evolving nature of maritime crime requires continuous collaboration.

“Consequently, the Grand African NEMO has become a major annual maritime security exercise in the Gulf of Guinea since its inception in 2018,” he said.

The naval chief expressed confidence that the exercise would strengthen the operational capabilities of participating navies and deepen regional cooperation under the Yaoundé maritime security architecture.

Earlier, Rear Adm. Suleiman Ibrahim, Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command, said the exercise was initiated by the French navy in collaboration with the Nigerian navy and other allied partners.

Ibrahim, who would conduct the exercise, said it would involve naval assets from the navy’s three operational commands; Central Naval Command, Eastern Naval Command and Western Naval Command alongside foreign naval ships.

He described the exercise as a critical component of regional maritime security cooperation and Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen its blue economy.

“The exercise will build on gains from Exercise Fleet Sentinel, conducted six months ago, and the ongoing Operation Delta Sentinel,” he said. (NAN)