The Nigerian Navy on Sunday, 26 April 2026 formally flagged off Exercise OBANGAME EXPRESS 2026 (OE 26), deploying nine ships, two helicopters, maritime domain awareness assets and elements of its Special Boat Service.
Exercise OBANGAME EXPRESS 2026 is a multinational maritime exercise aimed at strengthening regional cooperation, enhancing maritime domain awareness, and improving collective capacity to combat maritime threats within the Gulf of Guinea.
The flag-off ceremony, held onboard NNS IKENNE, was conducted by the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, who was represented by the Chief of Operations, Rear Admiral Patrick Effah.
Obangame Express 2026 (OE 26), sponsored by U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and conducted by the U.S. Navy’s Sixth Fleet, held an opening ceremony for the exercise April 23, 2026 in host nation Cameroon.
One of three regional maritime exercises led by U.S. Sixth Fleet as part of a comprehensive strategy to provide collaborative opportunities to African forces and international partners to address maritime security concerns, this year’s exercise is taking place from April 13 to May 1.
According to a statement by Director of Naval Information (DNI), Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, “it is a multinational initiative involving over 30 participating nations. The exercise is designed to enhance interoperability among navies and maritime security agencies across West and Central Africa, while addressing transnational maritime crimes such as piracy, sea robbery, crude oil theft, illegal fishing, and trafficking.
“The 5-day exercise, scheduled from 26 to 30 April 2026, features the deployment of 9 Nigerian Navy ships, 2 helicopters, maritime domain awareness assets, and Special Boat Service (SBS) elements. It also includes active participation from key national agencies such as the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), thereby reinforcing inter-agency synergy.”
In his remarks, the Admiral Abbas described the exercise as a critical platform for fostering unity of effort, improving information sharing, and enhancing maritime awareness across the region, emphasizing that the essence of OE 26 lies in building trust, strengthening interoperability, and developing the operational capacity of participating forces to respond effectively to evolving maritime threats.
The CNS further noted that the exercise is deliberately structured to sharpen operational readiness, enhance interdiction capabilities, and test response mechanisms through realistic, scenario-based engagements, including counter-piracy operations, anti-trafficking drills, illegal fishing interdictions, search and rescue missions, and visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) procedures.
Highlighting Nigeria’s progress in maritime security, Vice Admiral Abbas referenced the country’s removal from the International Maritime Bureau’s list of piracy-prone countries in 2022, attributing the achievement to sustained collaboration with regional and international partners, as well as initiatives such as OBANGAME EXPRESS.
He also underscored the strategic importance of securing the Gulf of Guinea, noting that the region remains vital to global trade, energy security, and economic stability.
Additionally, the CNS highlighted that Exercise OBANGAME EXPRESS 2026 coincides with the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary, reflecting seven decades of dedication to safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime domain and contributing to regional peace and security.
The CNS expressed appreciation to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his continued support to the Armed Forces and the Nigerian Navy, and commended all participating personnel and agencies for their professionalism and commitment.
