By Philip Nwosu, Lagos
The Nigerian Navy has commenced Exercise Crocodile Lift 2025, a major multinational maritime operation aimed at testing the operational readiness of its fleet and strengthening collaboration with allied forces in the Gulf of Guinea.
The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, said the exercise was designed to assess the Navy’s capacity to conduct amphibious landing operations, enhance personnel training, and improve inter-agency cooperation against maritime security threats.
Speaking during the flag-off ceremony held in Lagos on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, Vice Admiral Ogalla, who was represented by the Chief of Naval Transformation, Rear Admiral Monday Unurhiere, explained that the exercise also aligns with Nigeria’s broader efforts to support domestic and regional maritime security initiatives under the Federal Government.
His words: “This exercise is aimed at assessing the operational state and readiness of the Nigerian Navy fleet in conducting amphibious landing operations in collaboration with other friendly and allied forces. It is also to train our personnel with requisite skills to curb maritime security threats in line with our constitutional mandate.”
He noted that the operation would help the Navy preserve and protect Nigeria’s maritime environment, thereby enabling the country to harness its vast ocean resources for economic prosperity.
According to the Naval Chief, the Nigerian Navy will deploy five ships, two helicopters, and detachments of the Special Boat Service (SBS) during the exercise. He expressed confidence that the drills would enhance the service’s preparedness for amphibious landings and combat operations while exposing other maritime agencies to the value of inter-agency cooperation.
Vice Admiral Ogalla recalled that the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) delisted Nigeria from the list of piracy-prone nations in 2022 and affirmed that the country has maintained a zero-piracy record since then.
Admiral Ogalla noted that, “Reports from regional maritime awareness centres have also shown improvement in legitimate shipping activities and a reduction in crime across Nigerian waters.
“Similarly, there has been a rise in oil production, and it is hoped that the nation will surpass its crude oil quota. These achievements are due to sustained naval presence at sea, technological surveillance, and enhanced regional and international synergy through exercises like Crocodile Lift.”
The Naval Chief commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Minister of Defence, and the Minister of State for Defence for their continued support to the Nigerian Navy. He also expressed appreciation to the Chief of Defence Staff, other Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, and heads of security agencies for their cooperation.
“Huge logistics, robust planning, and effective coordination are required to put together an exercise of this magnitude,” Ogalla said. “We are grateful to our partners and stakeholders represented here today for the synergy and support thus far.”
Earlier in his welcome address, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Mike Oamen, assured the Chief of the Naval Staff that the confidence reposed in the Command to coordinate the exercise was well placed.
He said: “The Command is particularly delighted to host this annual yet significant capacity-building exercise. I want to assure the Chief of the Naval Staff that the confidence reposed in this Command to conduct the exercise is not misplaced.”
According to him, Exercise Crocodile Lift is a yearly multinational maritime security operation organised by countries of the Gulf of Guinea under the auspices of the French Commander-in-Chief for the Atlantic. The exercise, he explained, is designed to promote freedom of navigation by enhancing coordination and cooperation in the fight against maritime insecurity.
He noted that the objective of the 2025 edition was to create a safe and secure maritime domain through simulated amphibious operations aimed at safeguarding the Gulf of Guinea from piracy, sea robbery, crude oil theft, and other maritime crimes.
The FOC noted that during the exercise, the Nigerian Navy will conduct combined amphibious operations with the French Navy, explaining that the sea manoeuvres and amphibious training scenarios to be conducted will further hone the skills of participants and enhance maritime security efforts in the Gulf of Guinea.
The Flag Officer Commanding reassured members of the public of the Navy’s commitment to ensuring a safe maritime environment that supports legitimate economic activities.
“The Nigerian Navy and, indeed, the Western Naval Command will continue to implement both kinetic and non-kinetic initiatives to sustain a conducive maritime environment for business to thrive,” he said.
He said that, as a command, “we remain committed to the vision and mission of the Chief of the Naval Staff and grateful for Headquarters’ support in achieving a secured maritime domain.”
