THE Nigerian Navy has deployed three helicopters, nine ships and several multipurpose assault boats for a special sea inspection aimed at showcasing its combat readiness and strengthening the protection of the nation’s economic assets across its territorial waters.

The annual exercise is designed to enhance the preparedness of officers and men for effective maritime security operations.

The Eastern Naval Command’s version of the exercise, code-named “Ex Din Mingi” — meaning “safe waters’’ in the Ibani language — was flagged off by the Flag Officer Commanding, Rear Admiral Chiedozie Okehie, at the Nigerian Navy Ship SHERE in Onne, Rivers State.

Okehie said Ex Din Mingi aligned with the Navy’s four pillars of Professionalism, Operational Readiness, Welfare and Inter-Agency Collaboration.

The three-day drill, tagged“Protecting Critical Infrastructure Through Inter-Agency Collaboration,” involves platforms and personnel from the Navy, the Nigerian Army and the Air Force.

“In all, nine ships of different classes, helicopters from both the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Air Force, the Epsilon EP55 UAV, as well as multipurpose assault boats from the NA and NN, will be deployed for the exercise,” he said.

He noted that one of the key tasks would be an opposed boarding of a simulated hijacked LNG vessel — an operation requiring specialised skills to neutralise threats without endangering the vessel.

Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency are also participating in the exercise to help identify psychoactive substances during ship inspections.

Okehie said the drill would assess the operational readiness of the Eastern Fleet and demonstrate a multi-agency approach to denying criminal elements freedom of action at sea.

He added that previous exercises had strengthened collaboration among security agencies and improved the Navy’s ability to respond to real-life maritime threats.

“The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, has clearly declared his mission to deploy a highly motivated and professional naval force capable of securing Nigeria’s maritime interests,” he said.

The Officer in Tactical Command, Rear Admiral K. O. Oguntuga, urged personnel to approach the exercise with professionalism, vigilance and strict adherence to safety protocols, noting that every operation at sea offers an opportunity to refine skills and strengthen teamwork.

Meanwhile, a private security outfit, Gallery Security Service, says it has employed no fewer than 1,000 youths in Ondo State as part of efforts to secure the state’s waterways and coastal areas against criminal activity.

The firm, which works in collaboration with conventional security agencies, said the initiative not only enhances local security but also provides meaningful employment for young people.

Its General Manager, Anthony Onyeisue, disclosed this during the organisation’s 13th anniversary celebration in Agadagba-Obon, Ese-Odo Local Government Area.

According to him, the company prioritises collaboration, community policing and youth engagement as key strategies for reducing crime.

“Youth unemployment remains a major challenge across the country, and to address this, we have employed over 1,000 personnel, providing jobs and keeping young people away from criminal activities,” he said.

Onyeisue added that the company routinely hands over arrested suspects to the police since it lacks prosecutorial powers and is prohibited from carrying arms or military-grade equipment.

“While we are restricted from using military-grade devices such as drones, our partnership with security agencies allows us to tap into their capabilities and deploy everyday tools like mobile phones and walkie-talkies effectively,” he said.

He noted that the company’s workforce is drawn directly from communities within its operational areas, aligning with national community-policing strategies.

Onyeisue added that although the company’s headquarters is in Ondo State, it also operates in Lagos, Akure, Benin and other parts of the country and intends to grow into a global brand.

“We have an agreement with the Ondo State Government to manage its waterways, which are a gateway to the Niger Delta and Lagos. Once accredited by the NSCDC, we can operate anywhere in the country,” he said.