The Nigerian Navy on Tuesday said it will deploy eight of its warships and helicopters to the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) for a multinational sea exercise code-named ‘Exercise Obangame Express’ involves the navies of 30 countries.
The massive sea exercise according to the naval authorities is aim at developing strategic measures, towards countering sea-based illicit activities in the oil rich Gulf of ouinea corridor and to deepen cooperation among the region’s navies.
Among countries expected for the exercise (31) being hosted by the Nigerian Navy are countries like the United States, Morocco and Portugal.
Flag Officer Commanding FOC Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Obed Ngalabak while addressing the media in Lagos, on the exercise, stated that the sea exercise which was first held in 2010, was aimed at boosting regional cooperation, maritime domain awareness, information sharing and collective capabilities of the GoG and ECOWAS nations to counter illegalities in the maritime domain.
To this end, the FOC said, the overall objectives of ‘Obagame Express’ was to exercise each of the participating countries capabilities in Maritime Domain Awareness and Maritime Interdiction Operations.
His words, “Obangame Express is an annual multi-faceted sea exercise sponsored by the US Naval Force Africa, USVAF.
“Specifically, the exercise objectives include demonstrating and evaluating maritime operation centers interoperability across the region and demonstrating and evaluating tactical maritime interdiction operations capability.
“It is also to demonstrate and evaluate operational capability to respond to maritime events, prevent and counter maritime threats; demonstrate power projection and the ability to effectively operate as a multinational force under a regional control authority; demonstrate and evaluate maritime operations Centre operability with tactical units and evaluate and access Africa Partnership Station (APS) training effects.
“About 31 participating countries including 20 African nations and 11 allied countries are participating and it is being hosted by the Nigerian Navy in Western Naval Command Area of Responsibility, with the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as the chief host.
“The exercise commenced since March 10, 2019, with the in-port training of Special Forces personnel from Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Cameroon and Benin Republic. The exercise life cycle includes sea exercise, Senior Leadership Symposium and debrief.
“The Senior Leadership Symposium would elicit discussions geared toward finding solutions to our common maritime security challenges while the training and sea exercise would foster togetherness among regional and friendly navies in the task of enhancing order and governance in the GoG maritime domain”.
“Eight Nigerian Navy ships including two Offshore Patrol vessels: NNS Centenary and NNS Unity, two helosand- one ship each from US, Portugal and Morocco would be participating in Lagos area, according to him.
“Exercise Obangame express is also aimed at assessing and improving Gulf of Guinea law enforcement capacity, promote national and regional security, improve knowledge of African Maritime Law Enforcement Partnership planning and operations and shape security force assistance efforts.
“The exercise would attract foreign guests /participants and domestic stakeholders in the maritime domain”, the FOC added.
It will be recalled that the GoG has a coastline that stretches between 15 countries, is of key strategic importance to West Africa, with about 70 per cent of its oil production derived from the maritime belt and a huge amount of untapped gas reserves located in it.
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