AU Commissioner proposes Pan-African naval exercise in 2027

The African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, has proposed a pan-African naval exercise in 2027 to enhance cooperation among African navies.

He proposed this during a courtesy visit to Nigeria's Naval Headquarters in Abuja on 5 February 2026, where he also requested Nigeria's support in hosting the continent-wide exercise. The exercise would involve partner navies from around the world. A recent Global Firepower report ranked Nigeria's naval fleet as the strongest in Africa.

Ambassador Adeoye further proposed a regional naval exercise involving ECOWAS Zone E navies as a model for broader maritime security engagement and coordinated efforts against transnational crime.

During the visit, he praised the Nigerian Navy for its achievements in maritime security, including the prevention of piracy attacks and collaboration with other navies in the Gulf of Guinea. He also highlighted Nigeria's removal from the International Maritime Bureau's piracy list in 2022 and commended the Navy's leadership ahead of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which aims to unite 55 economies.

On his part, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, Chief of the Naval Staff, reaffirmed the Navy's commitment to maintaining secure waters and assured that the proposal for regional exercises would be reviewed.

The engagement underscores Africa's ongoing efforts to strengthen naval cooperation, maritime security, and regional peace.