In a strong reaffirmation of inter-service solidarity, the Central Naval Command (CNC) on Monday hosted participants of the Air Force War College Nigeria, underscoring the growing urgency for coordinated military operations amid evolving security threats.
The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Central Naval Command, Suleiman Ibrahim, declared that joint warfare and strategic synergy among the Armed Forces remain indispensable to protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
Rear Admiral Ibrahim spoke while receiving the Commandant of the Air Force War College Nigeria, GA Mbaka, alongside participants of the college’s “Operational Visit 1” at the Command’s headquarters in Yenagoa.
Welcoming the delegation, the FOC commended the college for drawing participants from across Africa, describing the multinational composition as a milestone capable of deepening strategic thought and strengthening continental defence cooperation.
He noted that the visit aligns with the strategic direction of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Idi Abbas, whose leadership ethos, he said, places premium value on collaboration in tackling complex maritime and internal security challenges.
According to him, the Constitution clearly mandates the Armed Forces to defend Nigeria’s sovereignty, a responsibility that can only be effectively discharged through joint operations and unified command strategies.
“With global unrest on the rise, this course must be taken seriously,” Ibrahim stressed, urging participants to embrace the exposure to strategic-level thinking necessary for safeguarding national defence architecture.
Responding, Mbaka expressed appreciation for the reception accorded his team and lauded the Central Naval Command’s operational strides, particularly the institutionalisation of a new Emergency Response Plan.
He further highlighted the Command’s crackdown on oil theft and illegal maritime activities, noting that recent arrests of suspected oil thieves and impounded vessels signal a renewed resolve to sanitise Nigeria’s waterways.
The visit featured a comprehensive operational briefing and an interactive engagement between naval officers and the visiting scholars. At its conclusion, the War College team pledged to forward a copy of its strategic paper, drawn from insights gathered during the tour, to the CNC, reinforcing a shared commitment to sustained operational synergy.