REMARKS BY THE CHIEF OF THE NAVAL STAFF VICE ADMIRAL AZ GAMBO GSS AM psc ensp(RSA) MTM MNIM MUSNI FCIS MIPM MESP FIIPS FCAI AT THE FLAG OFF CEREMONY OF EXERCISE OBANGAME EXPRESS 2021 HELD ONBOARD NNS THUNDER
PROTOCOL
1. It is with great pleasure that I welcome you all to the Flag-Off ceremony of EXERCISE OBANGAME EXPRESS 2021. The Exercise, now in its eleventh year, is an annual multinational maritime exercise, which was birth on the need for Gulf of Guinea (GoG) navies to work together for regional maritime safety and security. This was as a result of the region’s huge resources and vast potentials being continuously undermined by multifaceted domestic and cross-border threats and challenges thus dwindling economic prosperity of member states.
2. Barely a month ago, I conducted my inaugural Sea Exercise codenamed Ex SECURED WATERS aimed at assessing the operational readiness of our fleet and available manpower to respond to many of the security challenges especially within Nigeria’s maritime environment. While the outcome of the exercise indicated a good level of readiness and capability, we also noted that considerable effort and synergy are required in addressing the cross-border threats. Accordingly, EXERCISE OBANGAME EXPRESS 2021 presents that ample opportunity for the NN to work together with other national and regional navies in the spirit of the Yaoundé Code of Conduct, designed to improve regional cooperation, maritime domain awareness, information-sharing practices, and tactical interdiction expertise to enhance the collective capabilities of Gulf of Guinea and West African nations to counter sea-based illicit activities.
3. The Exercise, from its inception in 2010, has grown in both scope and in accomplishment. Starting out with just 9 participating nations in a centralised exercise, OBANGAME EXPRESS has moved to decentralised events with about 28 participating nations and about 100 individually evaluated events. Besides the spirit of togetherness which the Exercise has indeed imbibed amongst member nations, it has also enhanced the operational capability of the NN in its fight against various forms of maritime crimes through information and intelligence sharing. The sustainment of these gains is critical to Nigeria’s national interest, given the huge contribution of the nation’s strategic maritime resources to national prosperity and development. This year’s Exercise is therefore aimed at contributing to the freedom of navigation in the Gulf of Guinea by strengthening coordination in the fight against maritime insecurity for socio economic activities amongst member states to thrive. This is in line with the NN mandate and other treaties which Nigeria is signatory to.
4. Expectedly, a lot of logistics, planning and coordination are required to put together an Exercise of this magnitude. I must therefore appreciate the US Government through the US Africa Command and other international partners for facilitating and sustaining Exercise OBANGAME EXPRESS over the years as well as providing technical support for our regional awareness capability. Also, our gratitude goes to the C-in-C of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for his untiring support. More so, let me appreciate the FOC West, the Fleet Commander and all the officers and ratings of the Western Fleet as well as other fleets here present for your zeal and determination to rid the nation’s maritime environment of all forms of criminality. I wish you all a successful exercise.
5. On this note, senior officers, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, it is my singular honour and privilege to flag off EX OBANGAME EXPRESS 2021. As you join other navies at sea, I wish the officers, ratings of the participating ships fair winds and safe landfalls. Thank you, God bless you all. ONWARD TOGETHER.