The Nigerian Navy has begun a large-scale maritime security operation across the Gulf of Guinea, deploying 10 warships, two helicopters, and other strategic assets in a renewed push to tackle piracy, sea robbery, illegal arms and drug trafficking, crude oil theft, and illegal fishing.
The operation, known as Exercise Obangame Express 2026, was officially launched on Sunday aboard the Nigerian Navy Ship KADA in Onne, Rivers State.
The exercise was flagged off by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, who was represented by the Chief of Naval Operations at Naval Headquarters, Rear Admiral P. E. Effah.
Abbas said the deployment forms part of a coordinated regional effort to strengthen maritime security across the Gulf of Guinea, a region that has remained vulnerable to transnational criminal activities.
He explained that alongside naval ships and aircraft, the operation will involve maritime surveillance systems and personnel from the elite Special Boat Service, all working together to carry out complex security missions at sea.
According to him, the deployed forces will conduct operations such as boarding and search missions, anti-smuggling patrols, search-and-rescue operations, and simulated pursuit exercises aimed at improving response capability.
Originally launched in 2010 by the United States Navy in collaboration with African maritime forces, the exercise has grown into one of the most important platforms for regional naval cooperation.
Abbas said the exercise is designed to improve intelligence sharing, enhance maritime awareness, and boost operational readiness among participating countries.
“These activities are structured to sharpen our operational competence, test readiness, and refine our collective response to maritime threats,” he said, while stressing the importance of careful planning and coordination.
He also commended President Bola Tinubu for continued support to the armed forces, noting that sustained investment in maritime security is essential to protecting Nigeria’s economic interests.
In his remarks, the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral C. D. Okehie, described the exercise as a critical multinational effort involving West and Central African nations under the coordination of the United States Africa Command.
He warned that Nigeria’s maritime environment, despite its vast economic importance, remains exposed to criminal exploitation.
Okehie noted that the Gulf of Guinea is one of the world’s busiest shipping routes, making it vital to global trade but also increasingly targeted by criminal networks.
He stressed the need for stronger cooperation among regional navies and international partners to ensure sustained protection of maritime assets and economic resources.
The launch of Exercise Obangame Express 2026 comes amid ongoing concerns over piracy, oil theft, and illegal fishing, which continue to threaten security and economic stability in one of the world’s most strategic maritime corridors.
