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On Friday March 11, 2022, there was an official flag-off ceremony of Exercise OBANGAME EXPRESS held onboard NNS Thunder. This year’s exercise witnessed participants from about 32 countries onboard their various war ships within their country’s area of responsibilities.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu-Gambo, flagged off this 2022 Exercise Obangame Express. The exercise is aimed at improving security between Gulf of Guinea navies and allied friends.
Vice Admiral, Zubairu-Gambo said the exercise is designed to “improve regional collaboration through joint operations, intelligence sharing and harmonized legal framework to enhance collective capabilities of Gulf of Guinea nations against maritime crime”.
The Chief of Naval Staff, in his address during the flag-off onboard Nigerian Navy Ship Thunder at Onne Jetty, in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State disclosed that the Navy will deploy ten ships, two helicopters as well as elements of Special Boat Service (SBS) for the exercise. Furthermore, the Chief of Naval Staff commended United States Government through the US Africa Command and other International partners for facilitating and sustaining the exercise.