By Harriet Tornguvan
Nigeria has intensified its international campaign against piracy, crude oil theft and maritime crime following a new security partnership between the Nigerian Navy and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) aimed at strengthening security in the Gulf of Guinea.
The partnership was unveiled during a strategic meeting between the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, and the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Saylem Saeed Alshamsi, amid growing concerns over criminal activities threatening maritime operations and trade routes across West Africa.
The high level engagement focused on maritime intelligence sharing, naval technology transfer, indigenous shipbuilding and coordinated military operations targeted at pirates, sea robbers and crude oil thieves operating within the region’s waters.
The development is expected to bolster Nigeria’s maritime security framework as authorities intensify efforts to safeguard critical oil infrastructure and protect international trade passing through the Gulf of Guinea.
Speaking during the meeting, Ambassador Alshamsi commended the Nigerian Navy for its recent successes against maritime criminality, particularly through Operation DELTA SENTINEL, which has led to the interception and seizure of large quantities of stolen crude oil and illegal petroleum products.
The envoy noted that the increasing volume of international trade and foreign investments linked to Nigeria has elevated the security of the Gulf of Guinea into a matter of global economic concern.
He warned that persistent maritime threats could disrupt supply chains, weaken investor confidence and undermine commercial activities across the region.
In his remarks, Vice Admiral Abbas described the construction of NNS KADA in Sharjah as a major milestone in the growing defence partnership between Nigeria and the UAE.
The naval chief said the Nigerian Navy is seeking deeper collaboration in advanced naval technology and indigenous shipbuilding to enhance fleet capabilities and sustain maritime dominance within the Gulf of Guinea.
Security analysts say the emerging Nigeria-UAE collaboration could significantly reshape maritime security operations in West Africa as pressure mounts on criminal networks profiting from crude oil theft and attacks on commercial vessels.
