Eight elite Nigerian Navy warships have left the country’s waters to join in a global joint naval operation aimed at combating sea piracy in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG).
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Nigeria’s Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Adm. Emmanual Ogalla, revealed this to journalists on Friday, May 10, during the flag-off of exercise ‘Obangame Express 2024,’ in Onne, Rivers State.
Represented by Rear Adm. Olusegun Ferreira, the navy’s Chief of Training and Operations (CTO), Ogalla stated that eight warships, two helicopters, and the naval Special Boat Service (special forces) would participate in the week-long exercise.
“Obangame Express, sponsored by the United States African Command (US Africom), brings together naval fleets from the GoG and key partners from Europe, the Spanish navy, and North America to secure the region.
“It offers a platform for like-minded partners to jointly devise African-led solutions to transnational threats and challenges for enhancing regional security.
“The maritime security operations will encompass anti-crude oil, anti-sea piracy, anti-sea robbery, anti-fishing, as well as boarding and aerial operations, among other activities,” he said.
