Nigerian Navy’s Exercise Bolsters Maritime Security, Fosters Economic Growth — Navy Chief

Nigerian Navy’s Exercise Bolsters Maritime Security, Fosters Economic Growth — Navy Chief

The Nigerian Navy has successfully secured the country’s territorial waters, establishing a formidable shield against criminal activities and ensuring a safe passage for merchant shipping, PRNigeria reports.

 Rear Admiral Zakariyya Muhammad, Chief of Training and Operations for the Nigerian Navy made the remark at the culmination of the four-day naval operation codenamed “Exercise Nchekwa Oshimiri 2023.”

“Our enhanced presence at sea had restored the confidence of merchant ships and other maritime stakeholders in conducting legitimate activities,” he said.

 “The operation saw patrol boats and warships strategically deployed across Nigeria’s territorial waters, effectively deterring any potential threats.

“Exercise Nchekwa Oshimiri has enhanced the training of personnel onboard our ships for better performance in delivering our constitutional mandate of securing Nigeria’s maritime domain,” he said.

Muhammad said that Nigeria’s maritime environment and economic zone were now secured which has impacted positively in security of the Gulf of Guinea (GoG).

“So, our increased presence at sea has given more confidence to merchant ships to carry their trade without fear or threat from maritime criminal elements.

“This exercise has also improved security within the wider GoG because our sister navies and countries are abreast that we are conducting this exercise,” he added.

Speaking, Navy Capt. Tony Archibong, Commanding Officer, Nigeria Navy Ship (NNS), Kada, said the exercise was an enormous success.

He said Exercise Nchekwa Oshimiri was part of actionable steps taken to end oil theft, sea robbery, sea piracy and illegal unreported and unregulated fishing, among others, in Nigeria’s waters.

According to him, the exercise was used to improve operational capability of Navy’s fleets and stimulate real-time operational scenarios.

“During the exercise, we had a merchant vessel stimulate a rogue vessel engaged in anti-piracy for which we dispatched NNS Aba and NNS Oji to intercept, board, seize and search the rogue vessel.

“The exercise is used to build confidence in our security architecture aimed to secure the maritime environment for mariners to continue to carry out their trade and economic activities.

“Therefore, this will benefit both the Nigerian people and other maritime stakeholders using our waters,” he said.

PRNigeria had reported that the four-day exercise, tagged ‘Chief of the Naval Staff 2023 Annual Sea Inspection’, featured 13 warships, 88 patrol boats, two helicopters and 4,000 personnel.