Navy Launches Sea Inspection With 3 Helicopters, 9 Ships

The Nigerian Navy (NN) has announced that it deployed three helicopters, nine ships, and several multipurpose assault boats for a special sea exercise aimed at showcasing its combat readiness to protect the country’s economic assets within its territorial waters.

According to the Navy, the yearly exercise also aims to prepare its personnel with the skills necessary to protect Nigeria’s maritime interests effectively.

The operation, carried out by the Eastern Naval Command and called Ex Din Mingi, meaning “Safe Waters” in the Ibani language of Rivers State, was launched by Rear Admiral Chiedozie Okehie, the Flag Officer Commanding the Eastern Naval Command, at the Nigerian Navy Ship SHERE in Onne, Rivers State.

Speaking on the matter, Okehie noted that ‘Ex Din Mingi’ represents the Nigerian Navy’s four pillars of Professionalism, Operational Readiness, Welfare, and Inter-Agency collaboration.

The three-day exercise, which began on Tuesday with the theme “Protecting Critical Infrastructure Through Inter-Agency Collaboration”, also features the use of various multipurpose assault assets from the Nigerian Army and Air Force.

Rear Admiral Okehie explained that a total of nine ships of different classes, helicopters from both the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Air Force, an Epsilon EP55 UAV, and multipurpose assault boats from the Army and Navy would be deployed for the operation.

He highlighted in particular an opposed boarding simulation involving a supposedly hijacked LNG vessel, an operation designed to reflect the unique characteristics of Liquefied Natural Gas carriers and the specialised skills required to neutralise threats without compromising the vessel’s safety or structural integrity.

Okehie also added that some officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) will embark on assisting in identifying psychoactive substances on a suspected ship as part of efforts to foster collaboration.

He said, “The exercise is to assess operational readiness of the Eastern fleet, display a multi-agency and multi-dimensional approach by deploying platforms, including air assets, to deny criminal elements freedom of action.”

Regarding the impact of previous exercises, Rear Admiral Okehie noted that beyond improving the Navy’s capability to respond to real-life maritime threats, the drills also strengthen inter-agency cooperation and coordination.

He explained that continuous retraining was essential for effective military operations, adding that the exercise forms part of the Navy’s broader training goals to ensure personnel remain combat-ready.

Okehie further referenced the mission set by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, which is to maintain a highly motivated and professional naval force capable of safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime interests and conducting effective, diligent operations to support national stability.