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By Philip Nwosu
The Nigerian Navy has called for stronger collaboration among maritime security agencies, improved intelligence-sharing and the integration of defence systems to tackle emerging threats in Nigeria’s maritime domain and the wider Gulf of Guinea.
Commodore Isa Ahmed, who represented the Nigerian Navy at the panel discussion of the 2026 Africa International Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX) in Lagos, said effective maritime security required more than acquiring sophisticated equipment, stressing the need for compatible systems, common operational standards and coordinated responses among relevant institutions.
Ahmed made the call while presenting a paper titled “Interoperability at Sea: Strengthening Maritime Security Through Systems, Standards and Integration” at the exhibition.
He said the increasing complexity and transnational nature of maritime threats made it imperative for naval forces, government agencies and regional institutions to strengthen communication, share intelligence and coordinate operations.
“My central argument today is that interoperability must transform separate maritime capabilities into a coordinated operational advantage,” he said.
Ahmed identified piracy, armed robbery against ships, maritime trafficking, illegal fishing and the illicit movement of goods as major threats exploiting gaps in surveillance, information-sharing and law enforcement across national maritime boundaries.
He explained that a vessel detected by one agency could enter another country’s jurisdiction before relevant information was transmitted, potentially undermining efforts to respond effectively.
According to him, detecting suspicious maritime activities is insufficient unless information is properly assessed, communicated to the appropriate authorities and translated into lawful operational action.
The commodore identified systems, standards and integration as the three essential pillars of maritime interoperability.
On systems, he advocated linking existing surveillance and information platforms, including radar, Automatic Identification System data, satellite-based surveillance, intelligence databases and maritime operations centres, to provide a comprehensive picture of activities at sea.
He said agencies did not necessarily need to replace their existing equipment with a single platform, recommending secure interfaces and compatible data-exchange arrangements that would enable current capabilities to work together.
On standards, Ahmed stressed the importance of common technical procedures, terminology, data formats and incident-reporting systems to ensure that information exchanged between agencies could be understood and acted upon promptly.
He also called for robust information-security measures, including access controls and clear rules governing the sharing and use of sensitive information.
“The aim is not unrestricted information exchange. It is the secure and appropriate exchange of information with those who have the authority and operational need to receive it,” he stated.
Addressing institutional integration, Ahmed said maritime agencies needed clearly defined responsibilities, established liaison arrangements, agreed operating procedures and reliable coordination mechanisms.
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He recommended regular joint exercises, operational simulations and reviews of security incidents to identify weaknesses and improve cooperation among maritime stakeholders.
The commodore highlighted the complementary roles of the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, the Nigerian Ports Authority and law-enforcement agencies, noting that their distinct statutory responsibilities required effective coordination whenever their mandates overlapped.
He urged the institutions to strengthen information-sharing arrangements and to support technology investments with personnel training, maintenance, cybersecurity and sustainable technical support.
Ahmed also identified the Yaoundé Architecture, established following the 2013 Yaoundé Summit, as a critical framework for regional cooperation against piracy, armed robbery against ships and other illicit maritime activities in West and Central Africa.
He, however, warned that establishing regional coordination centres and information-sharing platforms would not automatically guarantee effective cooperation without timely intelligence, institutional capacity and clear operational procedures.
He called for stronger communication between national maritime operations centres, multinational coordination centres and regional institutions across the Gulf of Guinea.
According to him, common operating procedures, personnel development, joint exercises and sustainable funding are essential to improving regional maritime security.
Ahmed further urged African countries to make interoperability a fundamental requirement in defence procurement rather than an afterthought.
He said procuring authorities should specify the systems, communication interfaces, information formats and security arrangements that new equipment must support before contracts are awarded.
He added that compatibility should be demonstrated through testing rather than assumed from manufacturers’ claims or the acquisition of similar equipment.
Incorporating interoperability requirements into procurement specifications, contractual obligations and acceptance testing, he said, would reduce unnecessary expenditure, prevent duplication and improve the operational value of defence investments.
He also warned that greater connectivity could expose maritime institutions to cybersecurity threats, including system compromise, unauthorised disclosure of sensitive information and the circulation of unreliable data.
Ahmed maintained that technology alone could not guarantee maritime security without trained personnel, clear institutional responsibilities and sustained cooperation among participating countries.
He said progress should be measured by improvements in maritime awareness, the quality of shared intelligence, operational decision-making and the speed and effectiveness of coordinated responses.
He concluded that stronger interoperability would protect national interests, secure maritime commerce and promote stability across the Gulf of Guinea, urging stakeholders to translate regional commitments into practical cooperation.
