The Nigerian Navy and the French Navy have commenced a multinational maritime security exercise, GRAND AFRICAN NEMO 2026, aimed at strengthening regional cooperation and tackling maritime threats in the Gulf of Guinea.
The exercise, flagged off by the Central Naval Command, brings together Nigerian and foreign naval forces to enhance operational coordination and address security challenges, including piracy, sea robbery, illegal oil bunkering, illicit trafficking and illegal fishing.
Speaking at the flag-off 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 strategic deployment involving the Nigerian Navy’s three Operations Commands to safeguard freedom of navigation within Nigeria’s maritime environment and the Gulf of Guinea.
The Naval Chief noted that the exercise would strengthen the policing of Nigeria’s Exclusive Economic Zone while demonstrating the country’s operational capacity and commitment to regional maritime security arrangements.
He stressed that although the Nigerian Navy and other security agencies had recorded significant successes in curbing maritime crimes, the evolving nature of threats at sea made sustained collaboration and capacity building imperative.
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Vice Admiral Abbas traced the GRAND AFRICAN NEMO exercise series to the 2013 Yaoundé Summit in Cameroon, where Gulf of Guinea countries committed to strengthening maritime security cooperation. He noted that since its inaugural edition in 2018, the exercise had grown into a major annual maritime security event in the region.
According to him, the exercise is designed to improve the operational capabilities of participating navies and strengthen the maritime security cooperation framework established under the Yaoundé Architecture, from the strategic level to operational forces at sea.
He added that the exercise aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the administration’s Blue Economy blueprint.
Also speaking, the Flag Officer Commanding Central Naval Command and Officer Conducting the Exercise, Rear Admiral Suleiman Ibrahim, disclosed that the exercise would feature five Nigerian Navy ships, two helicopters, two unmanned aerial vehicles and foreign naval ships.
He added that the Nigerian Navy’s Maritime Domain Awareness facilities and personnel of the Special Boat Service would also participate in the exercise.
According to him, operational scenarios would cover anti-illegal crude oil bunkering, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, illicit drug trafficking, maritime interdiction, search and rescue operations, among other maritime security activities.
Rear Admiral Ibrahim explained that the exercise was designed to consolidate the gains recorded during Exercise FLEET SENTINEL, conducted six months ago, as well as the ongoing Operation DELTA SENTINEL.
He noted that the persistence of illegal activities in Nigerian waters had made it necessary for the Navy to continually review its operational strategies and deny maritime criminals freedom of action.
Shortly after the flag-off ceremony, participating ships and other maritime platforms departed for sea operations, marking the commencement of the exercise’s operational phase.
The FOC expressed appreciation to President Tinubu, the Minister of Defence and the Chief of Defence Staff for their support and guidance, while acknowledging the Chief of the Naval Staff for his strategic direction.
He also commended the Service Chiefs, heads of sister security agencies, participating foreign navies, maritime stakeholders and the media for their continued cooperation.
Rear Admiral Ibrahim reaffirmed the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to securing the nation’s maritime domain and creating a safe environment for maritime commerce and other socioeconomic activities to thrive.
