Federal Government has called for resilient partnerships among African navies to enhance collective capabilities and ensure the security of the African continent.

The Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Muhammed Matawalle, made the call yesterday at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Sea Power For Africa symposium, being held at the Eko Convention Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The symposium, themed “Leveraging Technology for Enhanced Maritime Security in Africa,” is part of the ongoing 70th anniversary of the Nigerian Navy.

Matawalle, in his keynote address, noted that navies were an indispensable aspect of the global economy.

This, he said, underpinned the security, stability, and freedom of movement essential for maritime trade, which constituted approximately 90 per cent of all world trade by volume.

According to him, by safeguarding critical sea lines of communication and preventing disruptions to trade, naval forces serve as steadfast guardians of international commerce and economic stability.

The minister noted that in the light of the immense responsibilities they bear, navies are continually evolving and repositioning themselves to address the complexities of an ever-changing security landscape in our shared maritime domain.

In his address, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, stressed the need for synergy among navies and other law enforcement stakeholders.

According to him, since its inception in 2004, this symposium has catalysed significant advancements in enhancing maritime security within Africa, creating a safer environment that not only protects waters but also propels the flourishing of the blue economy.

Describing the theme for this year’s symposium, ‘Leveraging Technology for Enhanced Maritime Security in Africa’, as both timely and relevant, the Chief of Naval Staff noted that unprecedented advancements in technology presented both an opportunity and a challenge for humanity.

In another development, he said the Nigerian Navy had recorded another operational success in the ongoing counter-terrorism campaign in the North East following the arrest of a suspected terrorist collaborator by personnel of Naval Base Lake Chad (NBLC).

According to a statement by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the suspect, identified as Baba Saidu Abdullahi, was arrested on June 1, 2026, during an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) mission conducted with a tactical drone in the Lake Chad area of operations.

Folorunsho stated that personnel monitoring the area observed the suspect emerging from a location where terrorist elements had earlier been sighted.

Continued surveillance allegedly revealed interactions between the suspect and armed terrorists before he departed the area.

The suspect was subsequently tracked in real time from the Dumba axis to the vicinity of Charlie Company, 196 Amphibious Battalion, where he was apprehended by security personnel.

Preliminary investigations allegedly indicated that Abdullahi frequently moved between Dumba and Baga town and maintained contact with terrorist elements operating within the area.

He is also alleged to have provided logistical support to the terrorists through the procurement and movement of essential supplies.