The Nigerian Navy has joined the French Navy and other international partners to launch Exercise GRAND AFRICAN NEMO 2026, a multinational maritime security operation aimed at tackling piracy, illegal oil bunkering, drug trafficking and other criminal activities in the Gulf of Guinea.
The exercise was officially flagged off by the Nigerian Navy’s Central Naval Command as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen regional cooperation, improve maritime surveillance and protect vital waterways across the Gulf of Guinea.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding Naval Training Command, Rear Admiral Abraham Zipele, described the exercise as a coordinated deployment involving the Nigerian Navy’s three Operations Commands.
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He said the initiative would help ensure freedom of navigation within Nigeria’s maritime environment and strengthen joint efforts to address threats such as piracy, sea robbery, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, illegal oil bunkering, human trafficking, arms smuggling and drug trafficking.
Nigerian Navy Targets Maritime Criminal Activities
The Naval Chief explained that the exercise would enhance the monitoring and protection of Nigeria’s Exclusive Economic Zone while demonstrating the Navy’s capacity to secure the country’s waterways in collaboration with allied forces.
He noted that Nigeria remained a major stakeholder in the Gulf of Guinea’s regional security framework, adding that protecting the country’s maritime resources was essential to national security and economic development.
According to him, although the Nigerian Navy and other security agencies have recorded significant progress in combating maritime crimes, the evolving nature of illegal activities at sea makes continued cooperation, training and capacity building necessary.
He also stressed that the Gulf of Guinea’s vast natural resources continue to attract criminal activities that threaten legitimate maritime trade and economic operations.
Exercise Builds on Regional Security Cooperation
Vice Admiral Abbas recalled that the GRAND AFRICAN NEMO exercise series originated from the 2013 Yaoundé Summit in Cameroon, where Gulf of Guinea countries committed to strengthening cooperation against maritime insecurity.
Since its first edition in 2018, the exercise has developed into a major annual maritime security initiative in the region.
Its activities cover several areas, including combating piracy and illegal fishing, responding to maritime pollution, conducting search and rescue operations, and disrupting illicit trafficking across regional waters.
The Naval Chief added that the exercise was designed to strengthen the operational capabilities of participating navies and improve cooperation between regional maritime security institutions, from strategic planning to operations at sea.
He further stated that the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the administration’s Blue Economy blueprint.
Five Nigerian Navy Ships to Participate
The Flag Officer Commanding Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Suleiman Ibrahim, who is conducting the exercise, disclosed that the operation would involve five Nigerian Navy ships, two helicopters, two unmanned aerial vehicles and foreign naval vessels.
He added that Nigerian Navy Maritime Domain Awareness facilities and personnel from the Special Boat Service would also participate in the exercise.
According to him, the operational scenarios would include anti-illegal crude oil bunkering operations, the prevention of illegal fishing, anti-drug trafficking missions, maritime interdiction and search and rescue operations.
Rear Admiral Ibrahim explained that the exercise would build on the achievements of Exercise FLEET SENTINEL, conducted six months earlier, as well as the ongoing Operation DELTA SENTINEL.
He noted that the continued presence of illegal activities in Nigerian waters required the Navy to review its strategies and strengthen its operational capacity to prevent maritime criminals from operating freely.
Participating Ships Deploy to Sea
Following the flag-off ceremony, the participating ships and other maritime platforms departed for sea to begin the operational phase of the multinational exercise.
Rear Admiral Ibrahim expressed appreciation to President Tinubu, the Minister of Defence and the Chief of Defence Staff for their leadership and support for the Nigerian Navy.
He also acknowledged the contributions of the service chiefs, particularly the Chief of the Naval Staff, as well as sister security agencies, foreign navies, maritime stakeholders and members of the press.
The naval commander reaffirmed the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to protecting the country’s maritime environment and ensuring that legitimate economic activities can thrive.
He said the service would continue to strengthen its operations and partnerships to safeguard Nigeria’s waterways in support of national security, economic growth and the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
