The Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel, RFA Lyme Bay, arrived in Lagos on Wednesday. This visit is part of a broader Defence Engagement tour across West Africa, aiming to enhance maritime security and cooperative training efforts.
The deployment comes under the UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership, renewed earlier this year, and marks stops in four key countries: Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Senegal.
A statement from the British Deputy High Commission in Lagos confirmed the ship’s arrival, outlining the various activities planned during its stay.
Ndidiamaka Eze, Senior Press and Public Affairs Officer for the British Deputy High Commission, shared details about the joint exercises and engagements scheduled to take place in Nigeria.
This collaboration seeks to improve mutual security capabilities, specifically focusing on the maritime security challenges unique to West Africa.
RFA Lyme Bay’s crew and the UK Royal Marines will conduct joint training exercises with the Nigerian Navy, concentrating on strengthening maritime capability and enhancing operational compatibility.
Key training activities will include boarding and search drills, led by the UK Royal Marines, designed to build Nigeria’s security expertise and help prevent maritime threats.
The drills will also allow both forces to test and improve their ability to work together effectively, which is essential for joint security operations.
Aside from training, the UK ship will host Nigerian officials, providing tours of RFA Lyme Bay to display its advanced capabilities and specialized equipment.
This is expected to foster deeper understanding and cooperation between the two nations’ naval forces, creating a platform for exchanging knowledge and expertise.
Following the Lagos leg of the visit, RFA Lyme Bay will take part in the Grand African Nemo exercise, a large-scale multinational maritime security exercise held off the Nigerian coast.
This exercise will include the participation of naval forces from Spain, France, Portugal, and Italy, alongside Nigeria. The collective training effort reflects a united front to address common security concerns such as piracy and illegal activities along the Gulf of Guinea.
Commander Jonathan Howe, the UK’s Deputy Defence Adviser to Nigeria, highlighted the importance of the joint exercises and the UK-Nigeria partnership in addressing various threats in the region.
Howe stated, “The UK is committed to improving regional maritime security, as well as increasing Nigeria’s ability to constrain security threats ranging from piracy to violent extremist organisations.”
Adding to this sentiment, Capt. James Wingrove, Commanding Officer of RFA Lyme Bay, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaborative effort with the Nigerian Navy. “It is a great privilege to bring RFA Lyme Bay alongside in Nigeria. The opportunity for my ship’s company and embarked forces to visit the region presents an exciting prospect while the ability to train alongside our Nigerian counterparts to hone skills, improve capability, and demonstrate our interoperability is extremely valuable,” Capt. Wingrove said.
