Nigeria, French Navy unite on maritime security in Gulf of Guinea

Abbah said this while receiving a team of the French Navy Ship (FNS) Germinal on a courtesy visit to its Apapa Command in Lagos.The ship berthed in the Naval Dockyard on Victoria Island, Lagos with the aim of strengthening cooperation between the navies of both countries and tackle maritime insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea.

Abbah noted that the Gulf of Guinea was becoming a hotspot and the entire world has become interested in developments there.His words: “The French presence is not the only one, we have other countries that is operating with us and that is why if there is any attack or act of piracy, we are always notified on time.

“If you check closely in the past one year, acts of piracy generally in the Lagos area have reduced greatly. This is the second port of call and the French were in the country in 2001 for close cooperation and this is what matters most,” he said.

The French Naval Commanding Officer of the ship, Commander Daetan Gayraud, said the 100 crew members were delighted to make the port call to Nigeria.

“The visit was aimed at strengthening cooperation between the navies of both countries. We hope to continue to strive in this cooperation and build better synergy. It is very important that we have been received by the FOC.

“It is an operation that began in 1990 to cooperate with African navies. We will be in Nigeria for two days and would proceed to Gabon to cooperate with their navies. We would have an exercise at the end of November with other navies and the Nigerian Navy will also participate,” he said.