By BANNERNEWS Reporter, Lagos
The Western Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy has reinforced its strategic role in maritime security with the hosting of a United States congressional delegation in Lagos, highlighting deepening cooperation in the Gulf of Guinea.
The delegation, led by Adam Barker, was received at the Command Headquarters by the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Abubakar Abdullahi Mustapha, who outlined the Command’s frontline responsibilities in securing Nigeria’s maritime domain.
Mustapha emphasised that the Command remains pivotal to safeguarding territorial waters and supporting regional stability, particularly amid evolving maritime threats in the Gulf of Guinea.
Central to the Command’s operations, he noted, is the Regional Maritime Awareness Capability (RMAC), a platform that enables real-time monitoring, intelligence sharing and coordinated responses to security challenges across Nigeria’s waters.
He said the RMAC has significantly boosted the Navy’s capacity to combat piracy, sea robbery, crude oil theft and other illegal activities, while strengthening surveillance and rapid response mechanisms to protect maritime trade routes.
The FOC underscored the value of sustained international partnerships, noting that collaboration with the United States continues to enhance the Navy’s operational effectiveness through capacity building, intelligence exchange and technical support.
The visit, he added, provided an avenue to review existing bilateral ties and explore new fronts for maritime security cooperation between both countries.
During the engagement, the delegation toured the RMAC complex, where officials of the Command presented a detailed briefing on its operational framework and achievements.
Speaking for the visitors, Barker commended the Command’s proactive posture in tackling maritime insecurity and reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to strengthening collaboration with Nigeria.
In a related development, the Chief of Logistics of the Nigerian Navy, SH Abdullahi, also visited the Western Naval Command to assess logistics infrastructure and operational support systems.
The visit featured inspections of key projects aimed at improving service delivery and sustaining operational readiness, with Abdullahi stressing that efficient logistics remain critical to the success of naval missions and overall maritime security operations.
