-
Flags off joint naval manoeuvre
By Philip Nwosu
The Nigerian Navy has reaffirmed its commitment to the sustained fight against crude oil theft, piracy, trafficking, and other maritime crimes within the country’s territorial waters, as mandated by the Nigerian constitution.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, made this assertion during the flag-off of the 2024 Exercise Crocodile Lift. He stated that the Nigerian Navy remains dedicated to upholding its constitutional role of defending Nigeria’s maritime territorial integrity.
Admiral Ogalla, who spoke at the event—a comprehensive naval manoeuvre aimed at developing naval personnel’s skills in amphibious operations—explained that the exercise is similar to the recently concluded Exercise Grand African Nemo but differs slightly by including simulations on illegal fishing.
He emphasised that the Nigerian Navy, as the lead agency for maritime security, stands ready to support sister services and other security agencies. “We believe in a multi-sector and multi-agency approach to combating the challenges we face,” he said.
Represented by the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Naval Doctrine Command (NAVDOC), Rear Admiral Shehu Usman Gombe, the naval chief noted that the exercise, initiated by France, provides an opportunity for partners to understand the Nigerian Navy’s security objectives and deploy African-led solutions to transborder threats and regional challenges.
The Chief of Naval Staff urged participating units, ships, and formations to leverage the exercise to achieve its objectives as outlined in the Naval Headquarters exercise directives. He reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to enhancing regional collaboration to ensure the safety and security of Nigeria’s maritime space for progressive economic activities.
Admiral Ogalla reiterated the efforts of the Nigerian Navy, regional allies, and international partners in ensuring overall regional maritime security, highlighting the success of the recently concluded Grand African Nemo 2024 exercise.
While stressing the importance of learning from international partners, he applauded the lessons gained from the navies of other countries. He recalled that 26 nations, including the navies of Spain, the United Kingdom, and the Gulf of Guinea, participated in the exercise.
Earlier, Mr. Laurent Favier, the Consul-General of France in Lagos, described the Franco-Nigerian bilateral amphibious exercise as a testament to the strong ties uniting the navies of the two countries.
Favier noted that the two nations share values rooted in democracy, the rule of law, and freedom of expression.
“France has supported Nigeria in combating terrorism for the past ten years through intelligence-sharing mechanisms that have proven effective,” he said.
“This exercise offers a unique opportunity to exchange knowledge in this specific type of operation, improving our ability to work together and maintaining cooperation at the highest level.”
The French representative emphasised that maritime security is crucial for Nigeria’s and the Gulf of Guinea countries’ economic development.
“This is particularly important as vital commercial sea routes are at stake,” he added.
“We will continue to celebrate stronger collaboration, meaningful impacts, and achievements. Crocodile Lift 2024 symbolises the synergy and shared aspirations of our two navies. We will forge a path of greater cooperation, ensuring a safe maritime environment for everyone,” Favier concluded.