By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
The Nigerian Navy has launched a major maritime security operation across the Gulf of Guinea, deploying warships, helicopters and other critical assets to combat piracy, sea robbery, oil theft and transnational trafficking.
According to Sahara Reporters, the operation, codenamed Exercise Obangame Express 2026, was officially flagged off aboard NNS KADA in Onne, Rivers State.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, represented by the Chief of Naval Operations, Rear Admiral P. E. Effah, said the large-scale multinational exercise is designed to strengthen coordinated maritime security efforts across the region.
He noted that the Navy deployed 10 warships, two helicopters, maritime surveillance assets and Special Boat Service personnel to tackle a range of maritime crimes, including illegal arms and drug trafficking, crude oil theft and unregulated fishing.
The naval chief added that the exercise would also involve visit, board, search and seizure operations, search-and-rescue missions and simulated hot pursuit drills aimed at improving operational readiness.
Abbas explained that Exercise Obangame Express, initiated in 2010 by the United States Navy in collaboration with regional partners, has evolved into a key platform for enhancing cooperation among navies in the Gulf of Guinea.
He said the exercise is expected to boost intelligence sharing, improve maritime domain awareness and strengthen joint response capabilities against emerging threats.
Also speaking, the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral C. D. Okehie, described the exercise as vital to safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime resources and strengthening regional security collaboration.
He warned that the Gulf of Guinea, a major global shipping corridor, remains vulnerable to criminal activities, stressing the need for sustained cooperation among regional and international partners.
The operation comes amid ongoing concerns over piracy, illegal fishing and crude oil theft in the region, which continues to pose significant risks to economic stability and maritime safety.