The Nigerian Navy, alongside the French Navy and allied partners, has flagged off Exercise GRAND AFRICAN NEMO 2026 to boost maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.
Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, represented by Rear Admiral Abraham Zipele, said the exercise deploys the Navy’s three Operations Commands to strengthen the fight against piracy, sea robbery, crude oil theft, illegal fishing and illicit trafficking, and to secure Nigeria’s Exclusive Economic Zone. The drill, rooted in the 2013 Yaoundé Summit, has become the region’s major annual maritime security exercise.
Officer Conducting Exercise, Rear Admiral Suleiman Ibrahim, said five Nigerian Navy ships, two helicopters, two drones, foreign naval ships and Special Boat Service elements are participating in operations covering anti-bunkering, anti-drug trafficking and search and rescue, building on Exercise FLEET SENTINEL and Operation DELTA SENTINEL.
