The Central Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy has launched a major maritime security operation known as “Exercise Ebi To’Ru”, a strategic sea exercise aimed at tackling illegal activities across Nigeria’s maritime domain. The operation was unveiled on Tuesday in Warri by the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Rear Adm. Suleiman Ibrahim.
“Ebi To’Ru,” which means “sea protection” in Ijaw, underscores the Navy’s renewed commitment to safeguarding critical national assets while enhancing the security of Nigeria’s blue economy.
A Key Step Toward Boosting Maritime Readiness
Speaking at the launch, Rear Adm. Ibrahim said the exercise is designed to maintain a credible naval presence at sea and to reinforce maritime security within the Central Naval Command’s area of responsibility. He noted that it will also serve as a preparatory activity for the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Annual Sea Inspection 2025, scheduled to take place in Lagos.
“Ex EBI-TORU is designed to sharpen our operational readiness, improve our response capabilities and enhance synergy among participating units and agencies,” he stated.
Exercise Focus: Protection, Interdiction, Readiness
Rear Adm. Ibrahim outlined the key components of the exercise, which include:
- Protection of critical national infrastructure
- Maritime interdiction operations
- Anti-piracy operations
- Anti-smuggling operations
- Search and rescue drills
- Emergency response simulations
These drills, he said, are essential for testing operational proficiency, validating strategic plans, and ensuring that naval personnel uphold the highest standards of professionalism.
Maritime Security Critical to ₦38 Trillion International Trade
The FOC emphasized that the maritime domain under the Command remains central to Nigeria’s blue economy aspirations. With Nigeria’s international trade projected at ₦38 trillion, and the maritime sector supporting a significant portion of it, ensuring robust defence capabilities has become imperative.
He listed key threats that continue to challenge Nigeria’s waters, including:
- Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing
- Marine pollution
- Arms trafficking
- Drug smuggling
- Terrorism
- Crude oil theft
- Sea robbery
Despite deploying Maritime Domain Awareness tools and advanced platforms, Ibrahim acknowledged that these threats persist—making exercises like Ebi To’Ru critical in closing gaps and strengthening response capacity.
Navy Reaffirms Commitment to Blue Economy Protection
Rear Adm. Ibrahim expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu and the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abass, for their support. He urged officers, ratings, and civilian staff of the Navy to approach the exercise with maximum professionalism and seriousness.
He reaffirmed the Navy’s unwavering commitment to:
- securing Nigeria’s maritime interests
- strengthening operational readiness
- enhancing inter-agency cooperation
- ensuring a safe and secure maritime environment
Tactical Command to Assess Ships and Logistics
Earlier, Rear Adm. Kabiru Tanimu, Officer in Charge of Tactical Command, said the exercise would provide a platform to assess the warships assigned to the operation. It will also enable the Navy to evaluate the effectiveness of its logistics systems across ongoing maritime operations.
