U.S. Strengthens Ties with Nigerian Navy, Praises Maritime Security Efforts

U.S. Strengthens Ties with Nigerian Navy, Praises Maritime Security Efforts

The U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, visited the Western Naval Command and the Regional Maritime Capability (RMAC) Centre on Friday to reinforce bilateral relations between the two nations. The visit highlighted the growing partnership aimed at bolstering security in the Gulf of Guinea.

Ambassador Mills emphasized the importance of collaboration with the Nigerian Navy in combating maritime crimes such as piracy, oil theft, and illegal fishing. “Our goal is to reduce maritime crimes in the Gulf of Guinea to the barest minimum,” he said. “We’ve been discussing how we can strengthen our partnership and improve security in the region.”

Mills noted that conducting joint maritime exercises between the U.S. and Nigerian navies is crucial for enhancing coordination and operational effectiveness. “Our intelligence sharing and training capabilities are already strong, but we are also exploring new assets and equipment to further improve maritime security,” he added.

Rear Admiral Mustapha Hassan, Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) of the Western Naval Command, expressed gratitude for the ongoing cooperation between the U.S. and countries in the Gulf of Guinea. He mentioned discussions focused on upgrading the sensor capabilities of the Regional Maritime Awareness Capability system to improve surveillance and response.

“The system is functioning well, but an upgrade would place us among the leading maritime nations,” Hassan said.

The FOC also confirmed plans for another edition of the U.S.-led maritime exercise, Obangame Express, which is designed to prepare the Nigerian Navy for future challenges in the Gulf of Guinea.