By Joy Odor Reportcircle News
Nigeria on Wednesday opened its western maritime security architecture to foreign scrutiny as senior officers of the Pakistan Navy Staff Course 55 undertook a strategic study visit to the Headquarters Western Naval Command in Apapa, Lagos, in a move aimed at strengthening professional cooperation between both navies.
The delegation, led by Commodore Mohammed Zahid Zaheer and accompanied by the Pakistan Defence Attaché to Nigeria, Colonel Kamran Mushtaq, was received by top officers of the Command for what officials described as a practical engagement on maritime security operations in the Gulf of Guinea.
During the visit, the officers were taken through a comprehensive briefing on the mandate, structure and operational responsibilities of the Western Naval Command, which oversees Nigeria’s western maritime domain, one of the busiest and most security-sensitive sea lanes in West Africa.
The briefing highlighted the Command’s role in:
Protecting Nigeria’s territorial waters
Combating piracy and sea robbery
Curbing illegal fishing and smuggling
Coordinating joint maritime operations with sister security agencies and industry stakeholders.
Commodore Mohammed explained that the Command serves as a critical pillar in Nigeria’s efforts to maintain maritime order and economic security.
As part of the study tour, the delegation visited key operational facilities, including the Falcon Eye Centre and the Regional Maritime Awareness Capability Centre.
At both locations, the visiting officers were exposed to Nigeria’s integrated maritime surveillance system, which provides real-time monitoring of vessel movements across the western maritime corridor and supports rapid response to maritime threats.
The delegation was also conducted on board Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) KADA, where they received firsthand insight into the ship’s operational roles, onboard systems and contribution to maritime security patrols.
Speaking during the engagement, the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abubakar Abdullahi Mustapha, described the visit as a platform for professional exchange and mutual learning.
He said interactions of this nature deepen understanding of evolving maritime security challenges and help shape coordinated responses to transnational threats.
“Maritime crime does not respect national boundaries. Cooperation, experience-sharing and information exchange are essential to sustaining security at sea,” Mustapha said.
The Rear Admiral reaffirmed the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to sustained engagement with friendly navies, stressing that capacity building and intelligence sharing remain central to securing the Gulf of Guinea and adjoining waters.
He expressed confidence that the visit would further consolidate the longstanding cordial relationship between the Nigerian Navy and the Pakistan Navy.
Members of the visiting delegation commended the Nigerian Navy for its professionalism and the depth of its maritime domain awareness framework.
They noted that the exposure to Nigeria’s operational systems and command structures would enrich their academic and professional training under the Pakistan Navy Staff Course.
The visit underscores Nigeria’s growing role as a regional maritime security anchor and reflects a broader push by the Nigerian Navy to engage partner navies through knowledge exchange rather than symbolism, as maritime threats become increasingly complex and interconnected.
