The European Union and Portugal have handed over two modern patrol boats and specialized maritime crime investigation equipment to the Nigerian Navy as part of efforts to strengthen maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea. The presentation at the Joint Maritime Security Training Centre, Navy Town, Ojo, Lagos, was done under a €15 million EU-funded programme implemented by Portugal. Officials said the initiative focuses on more than equipment transfer, targeting improved operational readiness, intelligence sharing, and stronger regional cooperation to combat piracy, oil theft, human trafficking and other organized maritime crimes.
Portugal’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Paulo Santos, described the Gulf of Guinea as strategically important to both regional and global commerce, and stressed the need for sustained cooperation. He highlighted Portugal’s support for maritime training, surveillance, search-and-rescue, and joint naval exercises involving the Portuguese Navy. EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, said the programme is designed to build capacity across ECOWAS member states by improving technical skills and coordinated responses, with continuous training to ensure the boats and forensic tools deliver long-term impact.
Representing the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abubakar Abdullahi Mustapha, said the support reinforces Nigeria’s security gains and blue economy ambitions. He noted that intelligence-driven operations and sustained naval presence contributed to Nigeria’s removal from the International Maritime Bureau’s piracy-prone list in 2021. The new 8.9-metre Spanish-built rigid-hulled inflatable boats will enhance rapid response and complement the Navy’s fleet of over 300 vessels, while the forensic equipment is expected to improve evidence management and collaboration among security agencies against complex maritime criminal networks.
