The Nigerian Navy has commenced Exercise Grand African Nemo 2024, a major maritime security operation involving the UK and Spanish navies, to bolster safety and collaboration in the Gulf of Guinea.

The annual exercise, held within the framework of the Yaoundé Code of Conduct, is scheduled to run from November 4 to November 11, 2024, with participation from key international partners, including the United Kingdom and Spanish Navies. The Nigerian Navy’s fleet, comprising NNS Kada, Nguru, Aba, and Challawa, will be actively involved in the exercise alongside these foreign counterparts.

Speaking a the flag-off ceremony which took place onboard the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) KADA, the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, who was the Special Guest of Honor highlighted the significance of the French-facilitated exercise, which underscores the commitment of regional and international partners to maintaining safety and security in the Gulf of Guinea for shared prosperity and economic development.

The CNS who was represented by the Admiral Superintendent Naval Ordinance Depot, Rear Admiral Livingstone Clinton Izu, informed that the Exercise Grand African Nemo aims to foster African-led solutions to maritime security challenges, emphasizing the need for cooperative efforts in addressing issues such as crude oil theft, piracy, and other illicit activities that threaten the region’s waters.

The CNS reaffirmed the Nigerian Navy’s dedication to regional collaboration and highlighted recent initiatives, including a proposed memorandum of understanding between the Nigerian Navy and the African Union for strategic sea lift operations, as well as plans for a combined African Union-led maritime task force.

“The Nigerian Navy remains steadfast in its constitutional duty of protecting Nigeria’s territorial waters and in combating crude oil theft under the leadership of Vice Admiral Ogalla,” Izu stated. He added that the Navy would persist in ensuring a secure maritime space to promote Nigeria’s blue economy in line with the President’s renewed hope agenda, calling on all participating personnel to uphold the exercise’s objectives.

In his welcoming remarks, the FOC Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Michael Gregory Oamen expressed gratitude to the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral EI Ogalla, for selecting the Western Naval Command as host for this significant annual event. He emphasized the Command’s commitment to meeting expectations and ensuring the success of the operation.

Rear Admiral MG Oamen noted that the Exercise Grand African Nemo, coordinated under the French Commander in Chief for the Atlantic, involves a coalition of 26 nations working collaboratively within the Gulf of Guinea to promote a secure maritime environment. According to him, this year’s objectives center on improving regional cooperation among navies and maritime organizations to counter threats such as piracy, sea robbery, and crude oil theft, which pose serious risks to regional trade and security.

The FOC stated that the Nigerian Navy, contributing significantly to this exercise, has deployed five ships, two Special Boat Service detachments, two helicopters, and five maritime operation centers. Partner vessels from the United Kingdom and Spain will also join Nigerian forces during both the national and zonal phases of the exercise.

These coordinated training scenarios are expected to enhance maritime combat readiness across the Gulf of Guinea, bolstering the ability to protect national and regional maritime assets.

Rear Admiral Oamen reassured the public that the Nigerian Navy remains committed to fostering a safe maritime environment that supports legitimate business activities. He emphasized the Western Naval Command’s dedication to upholding the vision and mission of the Chief of the Naval Staff, expressing confidence in the collaborative efforts underway to secure the Gulf of Guinea.

The exercise, which runs through multiple maritime operation zones in the Gulf, marks a critical step in unifying Gulf nations and allied forces to protect regional waters from criminal activities and ensure the stability of maritime trade routes.