The recently concluded joint military exercise between the French and Nigerian Armed Forces, codenamed Exercise Crocodile Lift, has been described as a symbol of growing cooperation between both nations in ensuring maritime security and regional stability within the Gulf of Guinea.
Speaking during the beach landing exercise at the Tarkwa Bay area of Lagos, Colonel Benjamin Brunet, the Commanding Officer of the Landing Group, said the annual engagement reflects France’s enduring partnership with Nigeria and commitment to strengthening Africa’s maritime defences.
He said: “I’m the commanding officer of the landing group inside the landing craft ship Tonnerre, which you can see here at sea, On board, I’m commanding a lot of troops participating in this famous exercise, Crocodile Lift, and we are very glad to participate each year with a powerful nation such as Nigeria.”
The exercise, which brings together troops from both countries’ navies and armies, focused on amphibious operations, joint coordination, and counter-piracy drills—all aimed at improving interoperability and response capacity in the volatile Gulf of Guinea.
When asked about the essence of the exercise and respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty, Colonel Brunet emphasized that France’s presence was purely for training and collaboration.
“We are here in the Gulf of Guinea to train and participate with our African partners in different exercises. It involves a lot of coordination between our armed forces—the Navy and Army—as far as I’m concerned. It’s a very impressive and good cooperation with the Nigerian Armed Forces,” he said.
The French officer also revealed that this year’s exercise came with a new innovation — the deployment of an advanced vehicle recently introduced into the French military inventory.
“Yes, this year we could deploy this new vehicle. It’s new for France too, so it’s a good opportunity for us to cooperate with Nigeria using it,” he added.
On his part, Rear Admiral Ifeanyi Okpala, the Chief Staff Officer, Naval Doctrine Command and representing the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Doctrine Command, described the joint operation as a success, noting that it has enhanced synergy among participating forces.
“The exercise was a success. The display you saw is part of a two-day event. Yesterday they went to sea, and today was the landing phase,” Admiral Okpala said.
He explained that the Crocodile Lift exercise falls within the framework of partnership programs in the Gulf of Guinea, coordinated by France with regional states, to sustain maritime peace and combat piracy.
“The Nigerian Navy over the years has been quite professional. This exercise is part of a partnership within the Gulf of Guinea, and the French Navy’s involvement is aimed at deepening cooperation with member states,” he noted.
Rear Admiral Okpala commended the Nigerian Navy’s achievements in securing the country’s maritime domain, stating that improved operational coordination and capacity development have led to a drastic reduction in piracy cases across Nigerian waters.
“We have secured our maritime domain excellently, and this has given rise to piracy cases that have reduced tremendously over the years,” he said.
Exercise Crocodile Lift forms part of a series of multinational training operations conducted annually between Nigeria and her international partners to promote maritime safety, counter illegal fishing, and strengthen tactical coordination across the Gulf of Guinea — one of the world’s most strategic but security-challenged maritime corridors.
