The Nigerian Navy’s Central Naval Command (CNC) has flagged off a major multi-agency maritime security exercise, designed to strengthen the country’s response to piracy, crude oil theft, smuggling and other threats across its maritime environment.
Code named Exercise EBI-TORU — meaning “Sea Protection” in Ijaw, the naval manuevre militarynewsng.com learnt, was designed to test the navy’s readiness in tackling crude oil theft, smuggling and other treats within the country’s maritime environment.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Suleiman Ibrahim, highlighted the economic significance of securing Nigeria’s maritime domain, which he described as the backbone of the nation’s international trade.
“The maritime domain remains the lifeblood of our economy, yet we face evolving threats including illegal fishing, arms and drug trafficking, and sea robbery,” the FOC said. “Exercises like EBI-TORU help to identify gaps, close vulnerabilities and validate our operational readiness.”
The large-scale drill features Nigerian Navy ships, a helicopter, gunboats and personnel operating alongside multiple government agencies, including the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigeria Customs Service.
Over the next several days, participating units will conduct coordinated patrols, protection of critical national infrastructure, vessel-boarding drills, anti-piracy operations and search-and-rescue simulations.
Rear Admiral Ibrahim noted that the exercise doubles as a readiness assessment and a preparatory activity toward the Chief of the Naval Staff’s 2025 Annual Sea Inspection scheduled to take place in Lagos.
He expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, for the sustained policy direction and logistical backing that have strengthened recent operational gains.
“We must sustain a credible naval presence to secure our waters for national prosperity,” he charged participating personnel. “I urge all units to work diligently toward achieving the objectives of this exercise.”
