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CONCEPT NOTE FOR NIGERIAN NAVY 2018 REGIONAL MARITIME

EXERCISE

GENERAL SITUATION
1. The Gulf of Guinea (GoG), currently defined by the maritime area and EEZ of
member states of ECOWAS and ECCAS, stretches from Senegal to Angola. Its
abundant crude oil reserves and natural gas as well as fisheries resources is one of the
means of livelihood and economic prosperity for the local states. Also,
over 80 per cent of their import and export activities are conducted through the Gulf.
Global demand for energy security has also attracted significant interest and
investments by several industrialised states into the GoG. Regrettably, the vast
resources and potentials in the GoG are being undermined by multifaceted domestic
and cross-border threats and challenges, thereby resulting in constrained investment
and economic prospects, growing crime and potentially adverse political consequences.
Particularly, acts of piracy, crude oil theft (COT), illegal bunkering/refining,
kidnapping sabotage/attack on national Oil and Gas Installations (OGIs) both onshore
and offshore as well as IUUF have created a general sense of insecurity and economic
sabotage in the region’s maritime domain.

2. The aforementioned illegalities have negatively affected economic activities

including designation of GoG as a high risk area of shipping. In response, efforts to
checkmate these illegalities have led to collaborative initiatives among GoG states and
their navies. The undesirable trend in maritime insecurity has compelled the NN
particularly, to take actions in response to the sit by activating a number of Op/Ex
initiatives such as Op TSARE TEKU, Choke Point Management and Control Regime
with deployment of House Boats, re-organizations of capital ships’ deployment,
exploitation of STUFT concept, additional deployment of over 100 gun boats, IPCs
and MDA facilities. Initiative by other friendly navies include NEMO and Ex
OBANGAME EXPRESS involving warships of the US, France, Germany, Senegal,
Cape Verde, Equatorial Guinea navies etc. Remarkably, in recent months, these actions
have significantly decimated the negative trend of maritime insecurity.
Notwithstanding, the potential for reversal of the gains exists as the militants and
economic saboteurs continues to multiply in grouping with persistent threats of attacks
on OGIs, COT and IUUF.

3. Consequently, as part of the NN 62nd Anniversary Celebrations and to further

consolidate on the aforementioned gains, Ex EKUKUGBE is being conducted.
The 2 – day exercise is scheduled for an area off Lagos Harbour Entrance and is aimed
at fostering regional cooperation amongst the GoG Navies as well as other friendly
Navies in tackling the menace in the maritime domain. The Ex will also further practice
the NN fleet as well as enhance greater collaboration between navies/coast guards in
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GoG and beyond. It will also consolidate recent gains in inter-navy operational
coordination and practice participating navies in monitoring and information sharing
during cross border operations. Further, the exercise will practice participating ships on
patrols, fleet manoeuvres, VBSS amongst others off the coast of Lagos in the GoG.

PARTICIPATION

4. Navies from the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa will participate in the Ex.
Details of the participating navies will be given in the Ex Orders. Also, observers are
expected from GoG nations as well as from other allied nations.

EXERCISE AREA

5. The Exercise will be conducted in an area in the GoG off Lagos Harbour as
shown in Enclosure 1.

PREPARATION

6. As part of preparation for the Ex, a CTG will be appointed and the NN will
conduct pre-exercise training in voice procedure and use of communication
publications. Arrangement will also be made to provide bi-lingual staff on participating
ships to facilitate communication.

Enclosure:

1. Google Image of the Gulf of Guinea Showing NN 2018 REMEX Area.

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