The Nigerian Navy on Sunday, April 26, 2026, deployed 10 ships, two helicopters, and other operational assets as part of a renewed offensive against maritime crimes in the Gulf of Guinea.
The deployment is under a special operation targeting piracy, sea robbery, illegal trafficking, crude oil theft, and illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, among other threats within the region.
Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, disclosed this while flagging off Exercise Obangame Express 2026 aboard Nigerian Navy Ship KADA in Onne, Rivers State. He was represented at the event by the Chief of Naval Operations, Naval Headquarters, Rear Admiral P.E. Effah.
Abbas explained that the multinational exercise, initiated in 2010 by the United States Navy in collaboration with Gulf of Guinea countries, has evolved into a key platform for strengthening coordinated maritime security operations.
He said, “It remains a critical instrument for fostering unity of effort, enhancing interoperability, and consolidating our shared resolve to secure our maritime domain against emerging and evolving threats.
“The core objectives include strengthening regional maritime security cooperation, improving information sharing and maritime domain awareness, and boosting tactical and operational readiness.
“It also aims to build the capacity of participating navies to effectively counter both national and transnational maritime crimes, including piracy, sea robbery, and illegal trafficking. The importance of this exercise cannot be overstated.”
The naval chief further noted that this year’s operation would involve a range of coordinated activities, including anti-arms and drug trafficking missions, anti-crude oil theft operations, and search-and-rescue drills.
“These exercises are structured to sharpen operational competence, test readiness, and refine collective response mechanisms to real-world maritime threats,” he said.
Abbas added that the exercise has significantly strengthened diplomatic ties and naval cooperation across participating nations, reinforcing the region’s collective maritime security framework.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for continued support to the Armed Forces and praised naval personnel for their professionalism and commitment.
Earlier, the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral C.D. Okehie, described the exercise as a major multinational maritime security initiative conducted across West and Central Africa under the sponsorship of the United States Africa Command.
Okehie noted that although the Gulf of Guinea remains a critical global shipping route, it continues to face evolving security challenges, underscoring the importance of sustained regional collaboration.
