The Nigerian Navy has called for stronger cooperation among security agencies, maritime institutions and local communities to sustain security across Lagos waterways and adjoining coastal areas, warning that emerging threats require constant surveillance, timely intelligence and coordinated responses.
The Commander of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliyu, made the call at a maritime stakeholders’ meeting at the naval base in Lagos. The meeting brought together the Executive Chairman of Apapa Local Government Area, Hon. Idowu Adejumoke Senbanjo, representatives of the police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Department of State Services, National Inland Waterways Authority and Nigerian Ports Authority, alongside other security agencies and maritime stakeholders.
Adams-Aliyu said the engagement was part of efforts to strengthen operational coordination between the Navy and other institutions responsible for maritime safety, security and law enforcement.
He outlined the vision of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abass (Admiralty Medal), to develop a modern, professional and agile naval force capable of protecting Nigeria’s maritime interests and advancing national security objectives in collaboration with other agencies. The corresponding mission, he explained, was to deploy a highly motivated and professional force to defend national sovereignty, safeguard national interests and contribute to internal stability through joint operations.
The commander said Rear Admiral E.A. Mustapha, Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, had introduced measures to translate the Chief of the Naval Staff’s vision into operational results. The stakeholders’ meeting was one of the initiatives designed to improve cooperation and strengthen the collective response to security threats across the maritime sector.
Adams-Aliyu highlighted the scale of the Western Naval Command’s operational responsibilities, which include the protection of inland waterways, harbours and territorial waters within its’ area of responsibility in Lagos, Ogun and Ondo states.
The area covers approximately 154 nautical miles of coastline, extending from longitude 002° 41.5′ East to longitude 004° 51′ East. The command’s operational network also includes forward operating bases in Badagry, Lekki and Igbokoda.
He noted that the wider maritime responsibilities involve extensive waters and Nigeria’s 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone, making cooperation with other security institutions essential to effective surveillance and enforcement.
The commander acknowledged that securing the area was a demanding task for the Navy and NNS Beecroft, given the scale of the maritime environment and the range of threats confronting it.
Although the security situation was currently calm in the areas under consideration, he said sustained monitoring remained necessary to prevent criminal activities, including drug smuggling and the unauthorized movement of stowaways through maritime routes.
He stressed that maintaining the current security situation would depend on intelligence sharing, regular patrols and prompt communication between agencies operating within the area.
Adams-Aliyu reported that NNS Beecroft, working with other security agencies, had recorded several operational successes since February 2026, including the seizure of 23 bags of illicit drugs subsequently handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Among the operations he highlighted was the seizure of five bags of cannabis sativa weighing 480 kilogrammes in a van at Abule Oshun, Amuwo-Odofin, on February 18. Another operation at the same location on February 7 resulted in the seizure of five bags weighing 500 kilogrammes.
The Navy also seized codeine, Canadian Loud and tramadol in the Gidan Drama area of Apapa on February 21 and 26. On April 13, personnel recovered two bags of cannabis sativa weighing 192 kilogrammes at Ikare Island, while an operation near Alpha Beach on July 15 led to the seizure of 11 bags of cannabis sativa from a wooden boat.
The commander further disclosed that a forward operating base had rescued 25 stowaways, who were subsequently handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service for the appropriate procedures.
He said the Navy had also participated in joint raids and patrols with the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Department of State Services and other agencies under the Lagos State Security Trust Fund framework to combat drug trafficking and related criminal activities.
The operations, he indicated, demonstrated the importance of joint action in addressing crimes that extend beyond the jurisdiction or operational capacity of a single institution.
The Executive Chairman of Apapa Local Government Area, Hon. Idowu Adejumoke Senbanjo, called for broader community participation in security efforts, noting that government agencies alone could not effectively address every threat in a busy port city.
Senbanjo said Apapa’s concentration of commercial activities, maritime operations and diverse social interests made sustained security cooperation particularly important. She noted that the area had experienced improvements in security over the preceding eight years but said further progress would depend on stronger partnerships.
She advocated cooperation not only among government security agencies but also through neighbourhood networks capable of identifying and reporting suspicious activities at the community level.
She said that a coordinated approach involving residents, local authorities and security institutions would help prevent criminal activity and strengthen public safety across Apapa.
Commodore Adams-Aliyu, urged stakeholders to establish reliable channels of communication with security agencies and provide timely information on emerging threats.
He emphasised the need for prompt reporting, consistent feedback and closer coordination, particularly during the Christmas and New Year period and the forthcoming election seasons, when increased movement and public activities could create additional security demands.
