The European Union (EU) has completed plans to collaborate with the Nigerian government to tackle maritime insecurity along the West African coast.
Receiving the Head of EU delegations, Mr. Nicolas Berlanga, at the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECFROT Jetty, Western Naval Command on Thursday, was the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Yakubu Wambai and senior officers of the command.
The Head of EU delegations and EU Senior Coordinator for Gulf of Guinea, Mr. Nicolas Berlanga, during the first ever joint event on strengthening Nigeria-European Union cooperation on Maritime security, noted that the idea is that the EU has felt it was good that they coordinate and engage strategically with the Nigerian authorities and the Nigerian Navy.
He added that its presence on Nigeria waters is for the EU and its member states to offer partnership to the Nigerian navy to secure the gulf of Guinea region.
Also present at the event were Italy Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Stefano DE Leo and Spain Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Juan Sell.
The Italian navy ship, ITN RIZZO and Spanish navy ship, ESPS SERVIOLA also made a port call to the Naval Dockyard for onward partnership and capacity demonstration.
Nicolas said: “the big principle is the effort that the Nigerian navy is making to strengthen maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea. It is also a work, which we benefit from because freedom of navigating, freedom of investment of economic activities is also our freedom. And in practical terms, the sea exercise that occurred between EU members and Nigeria is part of the partnership and Nigerians will see that more relevantly.”
The Chief of Naval Staff, represented by Chief of Policy and Plans, Naval Headquarters, Abuja, Rear Admiral Saidu Garba, speaking on the partnership, stressed that a fall out of the port call by the two European Naval Warships, which heralds the event would no doubt further strengthen the bilateral relations between Nigeria and the European Union including Italy and Spain.
Garba said: “I will want to say that Nigeria is very happy to work with the EU to build strategic partnership towards Maritime security to intend to develop protocol and procedures that will enhance information sharing as well as intelligence sharing and subsequently we will see how we can work together in the areas of operations and tactics at the lower level.”
He added that the partnership would be a win-win situation for both countries and that a two-day joint exercise between the three navies would also push for secured governance of the seas.
Meanwhile, Nigerian, Spanish and Italian would be commencing a two day capacity demonstration which is expected to cover the fight against piracy and other security threats within the maritime domain.