The Nigerian Navy and its Portuguese counterpart have launched a five-day joint maritime exercise to strengthen security and interoperability in the Gulf of Guinea. Codenamed Exercise Coastal Grip II, the drills began on Friday at the Nigerian Navy Ship BEECROFT Jetty in Apapa, with personnel from the Nigerian Army, Air Force, Police, Customs and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency also participating.
Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, said the exercise would tackle maritime threats including sea robbery, oil theft, illegal fishing and trafficking in people, weapons and drugs, which require coordinated international responses. Represented by the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abubakar Mustapha, Abbas said the exercise builds on Coastal Grip I, conducted with the Spanish Navy under the European Union’s SWAIM project.
The exercise will deploy Nigerian ships, helicopters, Special Boat Service personnel and the Western Naval Command’s Mission Control Centre alongside the Portuguese Navy frigate Álvares Cabral. Activities will include maritime interdiction, air-sea coordination, communications drills, ship manoeuvres and mission planning.
Abbas urged participants to maintain professionalism, discipline and safety throughout the exercise.