The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, has kicked off the Nigerian Navy’s Annual Sea Exercise, with a strong charge to participating ships, helicopters, special forces, and support units to approach the operation as a battle practice rather than a routine drill.
Speaking at the ceremony codenamed Exercise Eru Obofo on Monday, 8th December 2025, the Naval Chief said the exercise represents a crucial test of the Service’s combat readiness and its enduring commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime environment.
Vice Admiral Abbas urged the personnel to operate with “tactical rigor, procedural precision, and uncompromising discipline,”stressing that the exercise must push every platform and crew member to their limits.
He further encouraged them to identify operational gaps, learn from every evolution, and build the “muscle memory required for victory in real confrontation,” while maintaining the highest safety standards.
The Navy Chief explained that the exercise’s name, Eru Obodo, meaning “Guardian of the Nation” in a local dialect, reflects the sacred mandate entrusted to naval personnel as protectors of Nigeria’s blue economy, strategic waterways, and maritime security interests.
He emphasized the significant economic and security importance of Nigeria’s maritime domain, describing it as the nation’s commercial highway, a reservoir of vital natural resources, and a strategic zone requiring continuous protection.
This year’s edition of Ex Eru Obodo, he said, was meticulously crafted to simulate complex operational challenges, testing naval capabilities in: such areas as leet maneuvers, Advanced gunnery,/Anti-piracy operations, Illegal oil bunkering, interdiction, Search and rescue missions, Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) operations,Inter-agency coordination, and Logistics and sustainability in distant sea operation.
Vice Admiral Abbas highlighted the Navy’s broader role as a stabilizing force in the Gulf of Guinea, noting Nigeria’s significant contributions to reducing piracy, enhancing maritime governance, and safeguarding international shipping.
He affirmed that under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Navy remains fully prepared to undertake any mission in defence of national and regional maritime interests.
The CNS commended the Flag Officer Commanding, the Western Naval Command, the Exercise Planning Team, and all supporting personnel for the professionalism that made the exercise possible. He also reassured coastal communities of the Navy’s commitment to environmental protection and maritime safety.
With full confidence in the fighting spirit of the officers and ratings, Vice Admiral Abbas officially flagged off Ex Eru Obodo, declaring: “To the Fleet: Set sail, guard the nation, the Gulf of Guinea region, and make us proud!”
