Central Naval Command Launches Major Maritime Security Drill To Combat Piracy, Oil Theft

Central Naval Command Launches Major Maritime Security Drill To Combat Piracy, Oil Theft

On TUESDAY 2 December 2025, the Nigerian Navy’s Central Naval Command (CNC) flagged off Exercise EBI‑TORU — meaning “Sea Protection” in Ijaw — a large‑scale inter‑agency maritime security exercise aimed at sharpening Nigeria’s response to piracy, crude oil theft, smuggling, and other threats within the nation’s maritime domain.

In his address at the flag‑off ceremony, the Flag Officer Commanding Central Naval Command Rear Admiral Suleiman Ibrahim underscored the economic imperative of securing Nigeria’s waters, noting that the maritime sector handles the bulk of the country’s international trade.

According to the FOC, “the maritime domain remains the lifeblood of our economy yet we face evolving threats including illegal fishing, arms and drug trafficking and sea robbery. Exercises like EBI‑TORU helps to identify gaps, close vulnerabilities, and validate our operational readiness.”

The drill involved Ships, Helicopter, Gunbooats NN personnel in conjuction with sister agencies including the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigeria Police, National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Nigeria Customs Service. Activities over the coming days will include coordinated patrols, protection of critical national infrastructure, vessel‑boarding drills, anti‑piracy operations, and search‑and‑rescue simulations.

The FOC described the exercise as both a readiness test and a preparatory step toward the Chief of the Naval Staff’s 2025 Annual Sea Inspection slated for Lagos.

The FOC also acknowledged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, and the Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Idi Abbas for the continued logistical and policy support, which has enabled recent operational gains.

“We must sustain a credible naval presence to secure our waters for national prosperity,” the Flag Officer Commanding told personnel. “I charge all participating units to strive toward the objectives of this exercise.”