Navy flags off annual sea exercise, reaffirms commitment to Gulf of Guinea security

The Nigerian Navy on Monday flagged off the 2025 edition of the Chief of Naval Staff ( CNS) annual sea inspection exercise codenamed ERU OBODO, reaffirming its commitment to securing the nation’s maritime domain and the wider Gulf of Guinea.

The event held at the Western Naval base in Lagos on board NNS KADA marked the commencement of a major operational assessment aimed at evaluating fleet readiness, personnel proficiency and the Navy’s overall capacity to conduct maritime security operations in line with emerging national and regional threats.

The exercise involves the deployment of 16 Nigerian Navy (NN) Ships, 3 Helicopters and the full spectrum of NN Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) facilities in addition to the requisite number of personnel to patrol the sea area outside Lagos waters and the wider Gulf of Guinea

Speaking at the flag- off ceremony, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas stated that the name ERU OBODO – a local dialect phrase meaning “Guardian of the Nation is a critical test of the Navy’s operational readiness.

“The strategic importance of our maritime environment cannot be overstated. It is the highway for our commerce, the source of immense natural resources, and a vital zone for national security. Consequently, our ability to dominate these waters, ensure freedom of navigation, and deter any form of illegality is non-negotiable. EX ERU OBODO is designed to sharpen that ability to its finest edge, ” he said.

Abbas said this year’s exercise was meticulously crafted to simulate complex, real-world scenarios and to test navy’s capabilities across a broad spectrum of naval warfare: from fleet maneuvers and advanced gunnery to anti-piracy operations, illegal oil bunkering interdiction, search and rescue, and visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS).

“To all participating ships, helicopters, special forces, and supporting units this is more than a routine drill, see it as a battle practice.

” I charge you to operate with tactical rigor, procedural precision, and uncompromising discipline. Push your platforms and yourselves to the limit. Identify gaps, learn from every evolution, and build the muscle memory required for victory in a real confrontation. Safety must remain paramount throughout all operations, ” he said.

Providing an operational overview of the exercise, the Officer Conducting the Exercise (OCE) and Chief of Operations, Naval Headquarters, Rear Admiral Musa Bello Katagum, highlighted that ERU OBODO will feature a wide spectrum of drills, including fleet manoeuvres, communication exercises, maritime interdiction operations, gunnery practice, and search-and-rescue missions.

He stated that the inspection serves as a crucial mechanism for measuring operational standards and identifying areas for improvement.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Officer in Tactical Command (OTC) and Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abubakar Abdullahi Mustapha, noted that the exercise aligns with the CNS Training Directive and supports broader national security goals.

He stressed that the Western Naval Command remains committed to executing assigned tasks with precision, professionalism, and operational excellence.