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CENTRAL NAVAL COMMAND LAUNCHES MAJOR MARITIME SECURITY DRILL TO COMBAT PIRACY, OIL THEFT

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The Central Naval Command on TUESDAY 2 December 2025 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 trillion Naira international trade.

 

“The maritime domain remains the lifeblood of our economy,” he stated. “Yet, we face evolving threats including illegal fishing, armed trafficking, drug smuggling, and sea robbery. Exercises like EBI‑TORU allow us to identify gaps, close vulnerabilities, and validate our operational readiness.”

 

The drill involved ships, Helicopter, Gunbooats and personnel from the Nigerian Navy alongside 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 and the Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Idi Abbas for continued logistical and policy support, which they said has enabled recent operational gains.

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Despite deploying maritime domain awareness systems and patrol vessels, the FOC admit that criminal activities at sea have persisted, particularly around the Niger Delta and Gulf of Guinea. Exercise EBI‑TORU is seen as a tactical effort to improve real‑time coordination among security agencies before crises emerge.

 

“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.”

 

The launch reinforces the Navy’s ongoing effort to implement the CNS Strategic Directives 2023‑6, which prioritizes maritime security as integral to Nigeria’s blue economy ambitions.

 

Attached are relevant pictures.

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Aare Adetola Emmanuelking Hails Ooni of Ife at 10, Praises Reign of Unity

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The Chief Executive Officer of Adron Group, Sir Aare Adetola Emmanuelking, KOF, has congratulated His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife, on the occasion of his 10th coronation anniversary.

In a goodwill message, Aare Emmanuelking described the monarch’s decade-long reign on the revered throne of Oduduwa as divinely inspired, visionary, and transformational, noting that it has ushered in a new era of cultural renaissance and national unity.

He stated that since his ascension, the Ooni has redefined traditional leadership by modernising kingship, reviving Yoruba cultural identity, and strengthening Ile-Ife’s position as the spiritual and cultural epicentre of the Yoruba people.

According to him, the monarch’s leadership has significantly advanced youth empowerment, cultural diplomacy, innovation, and community development, while also strengthening ties between Africa and the global African diaspora.

Aare Emmanuelking commended the Ooni for successfully combining the preservation of ancient traditions with progressive governance, peacebuilding, and sustainable development initiatives, describing him as a beacon of cultural pride and purposeful leadership.

Speaking on behalf of his family, the Board, and Management of Adron Group, he expressed gratitude to God for the monarch’s impactful reign. He prayed for renewed strength, wisdom, and long life as he continues to serve the Yoruba nation and Nigeria at large.

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Why Keeping Ribadu as NSA Is Critical to Nigeria’s Security Strategy – Expert Analysis

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A security stakeholder and community engagement expert, Henry Bassey, has faulted the call by the Senator representing Osun East, Francis Fadahunsi, for the replacement of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, with a retired military officer.


‎Fadahunsi had, in a statement issued on December 2, 2025, urged President Bola Tinubu to appoint a former military officer as NSA and redeploy Ribadu to another national assignment.

‎Reacting, Bassey described the call as “dangerous, outdated and inconsistent with modern security leadership.”

‎He said, “The call to replace Mallam Nuhu Ribadu with a retired military officer reflects a narrow and outdated understanding of national security. What Nigeria needs is results, not recycled arguments rooted in obsolete assumptions.”

‎Bassey explained that national security had gone beyond military hardware to include political, economic, environmental, food, energy and cyber considerations.

‎He noted that globally, the NSA position is often held by civilians with deep policy and intelligence backgrounds, citing the United States where the current NSA, Jake Sullivan, is a civilian lawyer.

‎“Even in Nigeria, former police chiefs like Gambo Jimeta and Aliyu Ismaila Gwarzo served as NSA and performed excellently,” he said.

‎According to him, Ribadu’s background in intelligence, anti-corruption, inter-agency coordination and counter-terrorism makes him well suited for the office.

‎“The NSA is not a combatant position. It requires strategic thinking, intelligence coordination and integrity, qualities Ribadu has demonstrated for decades,” Bassey added.

‎He warned that the notion that only military officers could command respect within the armed forces was dangerous in a democratic setting.

‎Bassey urged the Federal Government to sustain the current security architecture under Ribadu, stressing that “excessive militarisation of the NSA office will only weaken Nigeria’s broader security framework.”

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FLAG OFFICER COMMANDING CENTRAL NAVAL COMMAND AIR OFFICER COMMANDING MOBILITY COMMAND FORGE STRONGER ALLIANCE TO COMBAT OIL THEFT

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Thursday 4 December 2025 – The Central Naval Command (CNC) and the Nigerian Air Force Mobility Command have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening synergy to tackle rising insecurity, particularly the menace of crude oil theft, in the Niger Delta region.

​The commitment was the highlight of a significant visit by the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) CNC, Rear Admiral Suleiman Ibrahim, to the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Mobility Command, Air Vice Marshal MN Onyebashi, at the NAF base in Yenagoa.
​During the meeting, Rear Admiral Ibrahim pledged full cooperation, stating, “The Central Naval Command under my watch would work hand-in-hand with the Mobility Command to achieve the mission and vision of our both services.” He stressed that the collaboration aligns with the Chief of the Naval Staff’s (CNS) Leadership and Command Ethos, thanking Vice Admiral Idi Abbas for his guidance.

​In his response, Air Vice Marshal Onyebashi expressed the Mobility Command’s readiness to strengthen the existing relationship, emphasizing that this renewed synergy would lead to significant improvements in security.
​He specifically outlined the Mobility Command’s support:

​Intelligence Gathering: Conducting joint maritime and air patrols aimed at gathering critical intelligence.

​Targeting Illegalities: Directing efforts against crude oil theft and other illegal activities within both commands’ Areas of Responsibility.

​AVM Onyebashi lauded the choice of Rear Admiral Ibrahim as FOC CNC, noting his professionalism and familiarity with the Niger Delta region. “Our continued collaboration will enhance the prosperity of the Nation,” the AOC maintained.

Attached are relevant pictures, Sir.

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