Nigeria Police Commission 31 Combat Gunboats to Strengthen Maritime Security

Nigeria Police Commission 31 Combat Gunboats to Strengthen Maritime Security

Lagos, June 5, 2025 — In a landmark move to fortify Nigeria’s maritime security architecture, the Nigeria Police Force has commissioned 31 state-of-the-art combat gunboats at the Lagos State Command. The deployment is part of a broader strategy to bolster anti-crime and rescue operations across the nation’s inland waterways, creeks, and coastal territories.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olukayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD, NPM, who presided over the commissioning ceremony, described the acquisition as a strategic response to the evolving security dynamics within Nigeria’s maritime environment.

“These gunboats are not ordinary vessels. They are equipped with cutting-edge navigation and communication technologies, and notably, integrated solar-powered systems, which reflect our commitment to sustainable and environmentally responsible policing,” IGP Egbetokun said.

He stressed that the newly commissioned boats will significantly enhance the Force’s operational capacity to patrol, detect, and swiftly respond to maritime threats such as piracy, smuggling, illegal fishing, and trafficking. According to him, the commissioning marks a turning point in the Nigeria Police’s efforts to secure aquatic corridors and reassure citizens of their safety on water routes.

In his keynote address, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Obasi Theodore Chukwuemeka, who represented the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Maritime Command, described the commissioning as more than a display of new assets—it is a testament to the Nigeria Police’s deepening commitment to maritime safety.

“With deep humility and gratitude, I stand to affirm that this commissioning is a reaffirmation of our resolve to safeguard Nigeria’s maritime environment,” he said.

DCP Chukwuemeka extended appreciation to IGP Egbetokun for his visionary leadership, citing earlier donations of armed gunboats to Marine Police units in Port Harcourt and Calabar as evidence of the IGP’s dedication to securing Nigeria’s waters. He also lauded the approval of offshore policing duties, describing it as a major morale booster that enhances operational visibility and public confidence.

“Marine officers are now better equipped and motivated to protect critical national assets and suppress criminal activity on water,” he said, while urging the officers to exhibit discipline, patriotism, and professionalism in carrying out their duties.

IGP Egbetokun also used the opportunity to thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his unwavering support and strategic investment in the Nigeria Police Force, noting that the President’s commitment to law enforcement reform is yielding tangible results.

“Under his visionary leadership, the Nigeria Police is undergoing transformation through modernization and improved professionalism. These newly commissioned boats are a direct testament to that support,” the IGP stated.

He emphasized that policing Nigeria’s maritime domain requires inter-agency collaboration and community engagement. He reaffirmed the Force’s readiness to work closely with sister security agencies such as the Armed Forces, NIMASA, and the Nigerian Ports Authority, as well as local communities, to curb maritime crimes and deny criminals any safe haven.

As Nigeria faces growing concerns around maritime insecurity, illegal trade, and cross-border crimes, the commissioning of these 31 combat gunboats signals a proactive stance by the Nigeria Police Force in ensuring safer waterways and greater national security.

“This is a proud moment for us,” Egbetokun concluded. “With courage and integrity, we shall continue to defend the territorial integrity of our nation and make Nigeria safer for all.”