France and Nigeria Strengthen Maritime Security Ties, Pledge to Enhance Cooperation in Gulf of Guinea Region
The Director of the French Directorate for Cooperation in Security and Defence, Lieutenant General Regis Colcombet, paid a courtesy visit to the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, at Naval Headquarters in Abuja on March 5, 2025. The visit aimed to strengthen the partnership between France and Nigeria in security and defense, particularly in the Gulf of Guinea region.
During the visit, Lieutenant General Colcombet stated that he was in Nigeria to improve the partnership between both nations in the area of security and defence. He also extended the warm regards of the French Chief of Naval Staff, who attended the Heads of Navies and Coast Guards of Gulf of Guinea countries hosted by Nigeria in November 2024.
The Director highlighted areas for improvement in the France-Nigeria security partnership, including maritime exercises, training, hydrography, and language skills. He emphasized the importance of enhancing joint maritime exercises to improve operational capabilities, providing training programs for Nigerian Navy personnel, improving hydrography services for safer navigation, and enhancing language skills for better communication and cooperation.
In response, the CNS welcomed the Director and expressed gratitude for France's contributions to regional maritime exercises, such as Exercise GRAND AFRICAN NEMO and Exercise CROCODILE LIFT. The CNS also noted that the Nigerian Navy has successfully eliminated piracy threats in Nigerian waters since 2022 and emphasized the need to increase operational capabilities in other states within the Gulf of Guinea region.
The CNS highlighted the fact that since 2022, the Nigerian Navy had successfully eliminated piracy threats in Nigerian waters, hence the urgent task within the Gulf of Guinea region was to increase the operational capabilities of other states in the region. While the NN is poised to do her best, the assistance of the French Navy would be beneficial.
The visit concluded with a commitment to continue working together to improve maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea. This collaboration is expected to foster a stronger partnership between France and Nigeria, promoting regional stability and security.
The partnership between France and Nigeria is crucial in addressing the security challenges in the Gulf of Guinea region. The region has been plagued by piracy, armed robbery, and other maritime crimes, which have hindered economic development and threatened regional stability.
The Nigerian Navy has been at the forefront of efforts to address these challenges, and the partnership with France is expected to enhance its capabilities. The visit by Lieutenant General Colcombet is a testament to the commitment of both countries to strengthening their partnership and promoting regional security.
As the Gulf of Guinea region continues to face security challenges, the partnership between France and Nigeria is expected to play a critical role in promoting stability and security. The collaboration is also expected to enhance the operational capabilities of other states in the region, promoting a safer and more secure maritime environment.
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