Nigeria’s Naval Strength Key to Africa’s Maritime Security – AU Commissioner
The African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security (AU CPAPS), His Excellency Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, on Thursday, 5 February 2026, paid a courtesy visit to the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, at the Naval Headquarters, Abuja.
During the visit, Ambassador Adeoye congratulated the CNS on the Nigerian Navy’s remarkable achievements in maritime security, particularly its success in eliminating piracy in Nigerian waters. He noted that Nigeria’s removal from the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) Piracy List in 2022 remains a significant milestone and a testament to the Navy’s sustained operational effectiveness.
The AU Commissioner further commended the Nigerian Navy’s leadership role in combating transnational maritime crimes through collaboration with regional and international partners in the Gulf of Guinea, describing Nigeria’s efforts as critical to Africa’s economic aspirations, especially as the continent advances the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), which seeks to integrate 55 economies into the world’s largest free trade area.
Ambassador Adeoye used the opportunity to propose the hosting of a pan-African naval exercise in 2027, aimed at strengthening cooperation among African navies and enhancing collective maritime security. He encouraged the Nigerian Navy to play a leading role, citing the recent Global Firepower ranking, which places Nigeria as having the strongest naval fleet in Africa. He also appealed for the Navy’s support toward hosting the exercise, which would include participation from partner navies across the globe.
Additionally, the AU CPAPS suggested the organisation of a regional naval exercise involving ECOWAS Maritime Zone E navies and other willing participants. According to him, such an exercise could serve as a model for future continental engagements while reinforcing collaborative approaches to combating maritime crime across African waters.
In his response, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas warmly welcomed Ambassador Adeoye and lauded the African Union’s unwavering commitment to peace, security, and stability across the continent. He assured the AU Commissioner that the Nigerian Navy would carefully review the proposal for a regional exercise under the framework of the Combined Maritime Task Force.
The CNS reaffirmed the Nigerian Navy’s resolve to sustain its maritime security operations and ensure that Nigeria’s maritime domain remains free from criminality and illicit activities, while continuing to support regional and continental security initiatives.
