…Fresh security pact signals tougher watch across Lagos waterways
The push for tighter maritime security gained fresh momentum as the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of the Maritime Police Command, Okunade Ronke Nurat, held a strategic meeting with the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Abubakar Mustapha.
The high level engagement, which took place at the headquarters of the Western Naval Command in Lagos, underscored renewed determination by security agencies to confront emerging threats within Nigeria’s maritime space.
The visit, described as timely and strategic, provided both Commands with an opportunity to reaffirm their shared responsibility in protecting coastal and inland waterways from criminal infiltration and economic sabotage.
Speaking during the engagement, Okunade stressed that safeguarding the maritime domain requires a unified front, noting that no single agency can effectively address the complexities of modern maritime threats alone.
She acknowledged the leading operational role of the Nigerian Navy in territorial waters, while reaffirming the complementary responsibilities of the Maritime Police in enforcing law and order across inland waterways and coastal communities.
In his remarks, Mustapha commended the AIG for her proactive outreach, describing the initiative as a critical step towards deepening synergy between both services at a time of evolving security concerns.
He reiterated the Navy’s readiness to sustain robust collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, particularly in tackling smuggling, piracy, and other transnational maritime crimes.
Deliberations during the meeting focused on strengthening coordinated patrols across Lagos waterways and adjoining creeks, with emphasis on intelligence sharing and rapid operational response.
Both Commands also explored the development of a unified emergency response framework, alongside plans to intensify joint training exercises aimed at boosting operational capacity and readiness.
The engagement concluded on a symbolic note with the exchange of souvenirs, sealing a renewed pledge by both institutions to defend Nigeria’s maritime domain and ensure the safety of lives, trade routes, and critical national assets.