Kayode ShopekanCHIEF of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, has announced that Nigerian Navy to partner with French and Royal Naval forces in the fight against piracy at the gulf of Guinea.
The Chief of Naval Staff who was represented by Rear Admiral Obi Egbuchulam, Flag Officer Commanding Central Naval Command, made the announcement during Flag-off of a six-day Exercise tagged ‘Grand African NEMO 2021, at Port Harcourt.
He said 13 warships, two helicopters and 1,500 troops would be deployed in a special military exercise against pirates in the Gulf of Guinea.
The CNS said, “Exercise Grand African NEMO 2021 is an initiative of the French Navy in collaboration with the Nigerian Navy, Royal Navy and allied partners, to improve maritime security in Nigeria’s territorial waters and the Gulf of Guinea.
“The six days exercise involves a multifaceted deployment at sea and ashore of naval assets drawn from the three operations commands of the Nigerian Navy.
“The exercise aims at ensuring freedom of navigation in the nation’s maritime environment and the Gulf of Guinea by strengthening coordination in the fight against maritime insecurity.”
The criminalities include: piracy, sea robbery, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing as well as illegal oil bunkering and illicit trafficking in persons, weapons and narcotics, Gambo, said.
The exercise would enhance the policing of the nation’s Exclusive Economic Zone and the navy’s capabilities and capacity to secure the nation’s waterways.
“To this end, the exercise will involve a total of 13 ships, about 1,500 personnel, two helicopters and three foreign naval ships, including the French Navy and the Royal Navy.
“The Nigerian Navy Maritime Awareness Domain facilities and elements of Special Boat Service (navy special forces) will also participate in the exercise.
“The exercise will also cover anti-piracy, protection of oil facilities as well as conducting search-and-rescue operations, among others,” he said.
The navy chief said the nation’s economic zone had witnessed recent threats by criminal gangs, hence the current re-strategizing by the navy to deny criminals freedom of action.
He said that the morale of troops had been boosted with the recent signing of the Anti-Piracy Law.
According to him, the special military exercise will be used to consolidate on the gains of `Exercise Beni Kekere’, conducted three months ago, and the ongoing `Operation Calm Waters’
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