The European Union, in collaboration with the Government of Portugal, has donated two patrol boats and maritime crime investigation equipment to the Nigerian Navy to strengthen efforts against piracy and other criminal activities in the Gulf of Guinea.
The donation was presented on Tuesday during a ceremony at the Joint Maritime Security Training Centre in Navy Town, Ojo, Lagos.
The support was provided under the Support to West Africa Integrated Maritime Security (SWAIMS) project, an EU-backed initiative implemented by Portugal to enhance maritime security across the 12 member states of ECOWAS.
Representing the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abdullahi Mustapha, said the two 8.9-metre rigid-hull inflatable boats and forensic equipment would significantly improve the Navy’s surveillance, rapid response and law enforcement capabilities.
Mustapha recalled that Nigeria was removed from the International Maritime Bureau’s list of piracy-prone countries in 2021 due to sustained naval operations, surveillance and effective law enforcement.
According to him, the newly donated assets will further strengthen the Navy’s operational capacity and help sustain the country’s gains in maritime security.
He disclosed that the Navy already operates more than 300 patrol boats but noted that the additional vessels would complement existing resources.
The senior naval officer also revealed that 28 personnel recently completed a two-week specialised training programme covering boat handling, maintenance, operations and maritime crime investigation under the SWAIMS initiative.
He added that the forensic equipment would enhance collaboration between the Nigerian Navy and other security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, through the development of integrated crime databases.
Speaking at the event, the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, described the donation as part of the EU’s long-term commitment to improving maritime security in West Africa.
He explained that the €15 million SWAIMS project is funded mainly by the European Union, with additional support from Portugal, and is designed to provide training, technical assistance and equipment to maritime agencies across ECOWAS member states.
Mignot stressed that the security of the Gulf of Guinea remains strategically important to both West Africa and Europe, describing Nigeria as a key partner because of its strategic location and maritime capabilities.
He also assured that the partnership includes technical support and maintenance services to ensure the donated boats remain operational throughout their lifespan.
Portugal’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Paulo Santos, said the Gulf of Guinea plays a critical role in regional and international trade, underscoring the need for sustained cooperation in maritime security.
According to him, Portugal’s support under the initiative covers maritime training, surveillance, search-and-rescue operations and joint naval exercises involving the Portuguese Navy.
The ceremony was attended by senior military and diplomatic officials, including the Commander of the Maritime Task Force for the Gulf of Guinea, Commodore M.S. Shettim, and Belgium’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Pieter Leenknegt.
The Nigerian Navy expressed confidence that the new equipment would improve operational readiness while strengthening cooperation between Nigeria, the European Union, Portugal and other ECOWAS member states in protecting the region’s maritime domain.
