Nigeria is stepping up its efforts in the fight against maritime piracy, which is reaching peak levels in the region. On the sidelines of the 2021 edition of the Grand African NEMO, the country deployed 1,500 soldiers and heavy military equipment for a security mission in the Gulf of Guinea.

The plan to fight against maritime piracy continues in Nigeria. The objective being to reduce the rate of maritime kidnappings in the Niger Delta, and the Gulf of Guinea in general. On the sidelines of the Grand African NEMO naval exercise, the country has deployed 1,500 soldiers to the Gulf of Guinea for a 6-day operation. The latter mainly targets oil and gas infrastructures with a critical level of security, as well as niches of crime in territorial waters. According to the announcement made by Vice-Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, Chief of Staff of the Nigerian Navy, two helicopters as well as 13 warships will equip the troops there, who will also be supported by 3 foreign contingents.