The Nigerian Navy on Wednesday solicited collaboration with the French Navy in tackling insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea.
The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Adm. Sylvanus
Abbah, sought the collaboration while receiving a team of French Navy Ship, FNS Germina at the command in Apapa, Lagos.
FNS Germina berthed in Lagos with about 100 crew members to foster the existing bilateral relationship with Nigerian Navy.
According to Abbah, the Gulf of Guinea is becoming a hotspot and every part of the world is interested in happenings in the region.
“The French presence is not the only one, we have other countries that are operating with us and that is why we are always notified on time of any attack or act of piracy.
“If you check closely from your records for the past one year, act of piracy generally in Lagos area has reduced greatly,” he said.
Abbah said that cooperation between the two navies was important, adding that it was the second port call the French was making to Nigeria since 2001.
The Commanding Officer of the French Navy Ship, Commander Daetan Gayraud, told journalists that the visit was aimed at strengthening cooperation between the navies of both countries.
He said the entire 100 crew members were delighted to make the port call to Nigeria.
“I hope the existing cooperation between the two navies will continue to go on and we are very delighted to be received by the FOC.
“It is an operation that began in 1990 to be able to cooperate with African navies.
“We will be in Nigeria for two days which after we will proceed to Garbon to cooperate with the country’s navy,” he said.
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