The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Obed
Ngalabak, confirmed on Wednesday in a telephonic news conference organised by the
US Embassy in Abuja.
He said that Obangame involved navy authorities in the Gulf of Guinea, European and
US Navy, and that the aim of the exercise was to deepen cooperation amongst Gulf of
Guinea navies.
Obangame Express is an annual multinational exercise supported by African, European and
US partners.
Ngalabak said that the exercise was designed to improve cooperation and tactical expertise
among participating nations in order to increase maritime safety and security for the Gulf of
Guinea nations.
“We have over Nigerian 15 warships participating in the exercise; we have eight ships
actively participating that will go into the sea, while the rest would be placed on standby.
“The number of personnel participating in the exercise could be over 500, because each
ship has its own personnel; some have up to 200, some 50 and so on. So, we have about
500 personnel participating.
“Outside the training, the collaboration has helped to establish good platform for sharing
information with our sister African nations,” he said.
According to him, the cooperation through Obangame Expressway has helped to reduce
criminal activities on the West African water highways.
“Today if there is any criminal activities going on in neighbouring countries, it will be easier
for us to track it down and arrest it.
“Recently we even pursued vessels to the Beninian waters and the vessels were arrested.
Now that the criminal knows that there is no hiding place, it is a bonus for all of us.
“Apart from information-sharing, look at human capacity building and also mutual trust.
Before now, there is this apathy within Francophone, Anglophone, Portuguese and other
Nations,’’ he said.
He explained that the other area Nigeria has benefited is synergy in operation and if the
nation cannot get it in that area, it can easily ask other countries to do it.
Ngalabak said that the exercise had been beneficial to the Nigerian Navy, especially in
fighting ship piracy on the sea.
He said that officers and ratings of the Navy had been trained in modern maritime
techniques.
“The Nigerian Navy will be hosting this year’s exercise and has committed some of its
capital ships and helicopters towards the exercise,” he said.
Speaking on the exercise, the Commander, Military Sealift Command Europe and Africa,
Capt. Eric Conzen said that “the exercise has proven successful in past years in building
Capacity”.