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BY PHILIP NWOSU
The African Union has proposed a pan-African naval exercise for 2027 to strengthen cooperation among African navies and enhance maritime security across the continent. The initiative was presented by the African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security (AU CPAPS), Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, during a meeting with Nigeria’s Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, in Abuja.
Ambassador Adeoye made the proposal when he paid a courtesy visit to the Naval Headquarters, urging the Nigerian Navy to take a leading role in the planned exercise, particularly following the recent Global Firepower report which ranked Nigeria as having the strongest naval fleet in Africa.
The AU Commissioner requested the support of Vice Admiral Abbas in mobilising other African navies for the continent-wide drill, which is expected to also involve partner navies from outside Africa. He further encouraged the Nigerian Navy to consider organising a regional naval exercise involving navies from ECOWAS Maritime Zone E as a preparatory step and template for broader continental engagement.
Adeoye stressed that sustained collaborative initiatives are essential in combating piracy, illegal fishing, oil theft and other transnational maritime crimes. He described the Nigerian Navy’s leadership in the Gulf of Guinea as an exemplary model for enduring maritime security operations across Africa.
Earlier in the visit, Ambassador Adeoye congratulated Vice Admiral Abbas on the Nigerian Navy’s remarkable achievements in maritime security. He particularly commended the Navy for its successful efforts in preventing piracy attacks in Nigerian waters since 2022, when Nigeria was officially removed from the International Maritime Bureau’s piracy list.
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The AU Commissioner also lauded the Nigerian Navy’s collaboration with other navies in the Gulf of Guinea in tackling transnational crimes, noting that such efforts are critical as Africa implements the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). According to him, improved maritime security is vital to the success of the agreement, which seeks to integrate 55 African economies into the world’s largest free trade area.
Responding, Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Abbas welcomed Ambassador Adeoye and expressed appreciation for the African Union’s commitment to peace and stability on the continent.
He assured the AU delegation that the Nigerian Navy would carefully review the proposal for a regional exercise involving ECOWAS Maritime Zone E member states under the auspices of the Combined Maritime Task Force.
Vice Admiral Abbas reaffirmed the Navy’s determination to sustain ongoing operations aimed at keeping Nigeria’s maritime domain safe and free from criminal activities. He emphasised that the Nigerian Navy remains committed to working with regional and international partners to secure the Gulf of Guinea and support Africa’s broader maritime security objectives.
The meeting underscored growing cooperation between Nigeria and the African Union in strengthening collective maritime defence as part of wider efforts to promote economic growth, stability and integration across the continent.
