The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening inter-agency collaboration as a vital strategy for combating maritime security threats in the Gulf of Guinea, including piracy, crude oil theft, illegal bunkering, drug trafficking and other forms of transnational organised crime.

The Commandant General of the NSCDC, Professor Ahmed Abubakar Audi, PhD, mni, OFR, also reiterated the Corps’ unwavering support for the Federal Government’s Blue Economy agenda, emphasising that the knowledge and operational skills acquired during the training would significantly enhance the Corps’ operational readiness and future deployment strategies within Nigeria’s maritime environment.

According to the Commandant General, the training will further strengthen the Corps’ capacity in maritime security operations, particularly within the Lagos maritime corridor—one of the busiest maritime hubs in West Africa—as well as other coastal and inland waterways across the country. He added that the training programme would be sustained, institutionalised and replicated across relevant formations of the Corps to improve operational efficiency and effectiveness.

Professor Audi noted that as the agency statutorily mandated to protect the nation’s Critical National Assets and Infrastructure (CNAI), the NSCDC recognises that effective maritime security requires collective action and coordinated efforts among security agencies and maritime stakeholders.

He stressed that no nation or security agency can effectively secure the maritime domain in isolation, adding that the ability to professionally conduct Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) operations—covering the safe boarding, inspection and seizure of vessels suspected of criminal activities—has become an indispensable component of modern maritime law enforcement.

The Commandant General’s remarks were delivered by the Lagos State Commandant, Mr Adedotun Keshinro, fnarc, who represented him at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Basic and Advanced Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) Training conducted under the Global Maritime Crime Programme (GMCP).

The three-week training programme was held at the Joint Military Security Training Centre (JMSTC), FESTAC, Lagos, and concluded on Friday, July 24, 2026.

As the Special Guest of Honour, Commandant Keshinro delivered the Commandant General’s address during the final practical exercise and closing ceremony of the training. He commended the UNODC and GMCP for their sustained commitment to enhancing the capacity of maritime security personnel and strengthening regional cooperation in the fight against maritime crime.

In recognition of his exceptional intellectual contributions and steadfast support towards the successful implementation of the training programme, Commandant Keshinro was presented with an award by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Global Maritime Crime Programme (GMCP).

Speaking during the event, the Programme Coordinator disclosed that participants were drawn from Nigeria, Angola, Congo, Benin Republic and Cameroon. He noted that the trainees demonstrated significant professional growth throughout the programme, strengthened regional partnerships and developed into a cohesive operational team better equipped to respond to emerging maritime security challenges across the Gulf of Guinea.

The training forms part of ongoing international efforts to improve maritime law enforcement capabilities, promote information sharing and enhance regional cooperation in safeguarding maritime resources and critical infrastructure within the Gulf of Guinea region.