Nigerian Navy, AU Align on Pan-African Maritime Security Initiative
The Nigerian Navy and the African Union (AU) have agreed to deepen cooperation on a Pan-African Maritime Security Initiative aimed at strengthening collective action against piracy, arms smuggling, oil theft and other transnational maritime crimes across Africa.
The alignment was raised during a courtesy visit by the African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security (AU CPAPS), Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, to the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, at Naval Headquarters, Abuja, according to a statement by the Nigerian Navy.
The statement which was made available by Captain A.A. Folorunsho, Nigerian Navy, Acting Director of Information, said during the engagement, Ambassador Adeoye commended the Nigerian Navy for its leadership in maritime security, noting that Nigeria has recorded zero piracy incidents since 2022, a feat that led to the country’s removal from the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) piracy list.
He also praised the Navy’s role in combating transnational maritime crimes in the Gulf of Guinea through sustained collaboration with regional and international partners, stressing that maritime security is critical to the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
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Ambassador Adeoye proposed the organisation of a Pan-African naval exercise in 2027 to enhance interoperability among African navies and urged Nigeria to maintain its leadership role, particularly in view of the Global Firepower ranking, which places Nigeria as having the strongest naval fleet in Africa.
The AU Commissioner further requested the support of the Nigerian Navy for a regional naval exercise involving ECOWAS Maritime Zone E navies, describing it as a model that could be scaled into continent-wide maritime security operations.
In his response, Vice Admiral Abbas welcomed the AU delegation and reaffirmed the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to sustaining a secure maritime environment in Nigeria and the wider African region.
He said the Navy would examine the proposal for a regional naval exercise under the framework of the Combined Maritime Task Force, adding that collaborative security efforts remain essential in countering evolving maritime threats.
Vice Admiral Abbas stressed that the Nigerian Navy would continue to work closely with the African Union, regional navies and international partners to ensure Africa’s maritime domain remains safe for trade, economic growth and regional stability.
The meeting underscored Nigeria’s growing role as a continental maritime security anchor and the AU’s push for African-led solutions to persistent maritime security challenges.
By PRNigeria
