Nine Ships, Three Helicopters Deployed As Eastern Navy Launches Sea Inspection Exercise

PORT HARCOURT – The Nigerian Navy has commenced its annual sea inspection exercise aimed at strengthening the capacity of its personnel to safeguard the nation’s maritime interests.

The drill, conducted by the Eastern Naval Command, code-named Exercise DIN MINGI, meaning Safe Waters in Ibani was flagged off by the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Chiedozie Donald Okehie, aboard the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) SHERE at the Navy Jetty, Federal Ocean Terminal (FOT), Onne, in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Rear Admiral Okehie said the exercise aligns with the Command’s four key pillars, Professionalism, Operational Readiness, Welfare, and Inter-Agency Collaboration, noting that this year’s theme, “Protecting Critical Infrastructure Through Inter-Agency Collaboration,” reflects that focus.

The two-day operation, which began Tuesday and ends on Wednesday, November 19 2025, involved a substantial deployment, including nine ships of various classes, three helicopters, an Epsilon EP55 UAV, and multiple assault boats drawn from the Nigerian Navy, Army and Air Force.

According to the FOC, the deployment underscores the Navy’s preparedness to defend critical economic assets within Nigeria’s territorial waters.

A major highlight is the simulated opposed boarding of a hijacked LNG vessel, designed to test the specialized skills required to neutralize threats without compromising the safety of gas carriers.

In addition, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) joined the exercise to help identify psychoactive substances on suspected vessels, further strengthening inter-agency cooperation.

Rear Admiral Okehie, explained that the aim is to evaluate the operational readiness of the Eastern Fleet while demonstrating a multi-agency approach that integrates air and surface platforms to restrict criminal elements’ freedom of action.

Speaking on the impact of previous editions, he said the exercise not only enhances the Navy’s ability to respond to real-world maritime threats but also improves coordination among security agencies.

In Okehie words, “In the Armed Forces, retraining is essential. This exercise forms part of our training objectives to ensure our men remain combat ready.”

He reiterated the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas’ mission to maintain a highly motivated and professional naval force capable of securing the country’s maritime interests in support of national stability.

Earlier, the Command highlighted its recent achievements, including the arrest of vessels engaged in economic sabotage and other maritime offences, adding that the new leadership has begun repositioning operations for greater effectiveness, guided by the four established pillars.

The FOC assured that all participating units would strictly adhere to the Rules of Engagement and Standard Operating Procedures throughout the exercise.