On March 14, 2025, Rear Admiral M.G. Oamen, the Flag Officer Commanding West (FOC West), welcomed Colonel Tom Brooks, the newly appointed United States Defense Attaché (US DA) to Nigeria, at the Headquarters of the Western Naval Command in Apapa, Lagos.
In his remarks, Colonel Brooks noted that his visit aimed to reinforce the ongoing military cooperation between the United States and Nigeria, particularly in the areas of combined exercises and training. He emphasized that the visit would help him assess where US assistance is needed and the types of support that would be most beneficial.
In response, Rear Admiral Oamen extended a warm welcome to Colonel Brooks and encouraged him to identify areas where US support could enhance the Nigerian Navy’s (NN) training and capacity-building efforts. He highlighted that the Nigerian Navy is the largest in the Gulf of Guinea and is committed to ensuring security in the maritime environment to foster business prosperity. He also pointed out that the NN’s endeavors have significantly improved safety in Nigerian waters, leading to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) removing Nigeria from its piracy-prone area list.
Following the courtesy visit, Colonel Brooks toured the Western Naval Command’s Regional Maritime Awareness Capability (RMAC) Center and the RMAC Training School.
Senior officers present during the courtesy visit included Rear Admiral Sulaiman Dantsoho Ibrahim (Chief Staff Officer West), Commodore Abdulrahman Mohammed (Command Operations Officer West), and Captain Tumi Adebola Ogunkoya (Command Technical Officer West).
