CHIEF OF THE NAVAL STAFF, VICE ADMIRAL IDI ABBAS ATTENDS FIFTH MEETING OF ECOWAS SUB-COMMITTEE OF CHIEFS OF THE NAVAL STAFF IN ACCRA, GHANA FROM 16 – 20 FEBRUARY 2026

ACCRA, GHANA, 20 February 2026

The Chief of the Naval Staff of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, has participated in the Fifth Meeting of the Sub-Committee of Chiefs of the Naval Staff of the (ECOWAS), held in , , from 16 – 20 February 2026.

The high-level meeting brought together Chiefs of Naval Staff and senior maritime security stakeholders from ECOWAS Member States to deliberate on critical maritime security challenges within the Gulf of Guinea and the broader West African maritime domain. Discussions focused on strengthening regional naval cooperation, enhancing information sharing mechanisms, combating piracy and armed robbery at sea, illegal fishing, trafficking, and other transnational maritime crimes.

Vice Admiral Abbas reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to regional maritime security collaboration. He emphasized the importance of synergy among ECOWAS navies in sustaining ongoing efforts to secure sea lines of communication, protect maritime resources, and promote economic prosperity across the sub-region.

The meeting also reviewed the implementation of previous resolutions, assessed progress made in joint patrols and coordinated operations, and explored strategies for capacity building, logistics support, and interoperability among member states’ naval forces. Participants highlighted the need for sustained political will, adequate funding, and intelligence-driven operations to effectively address emerging maritime threats.

In his remarks, Vice Admiral Abbas noted that the remains fully committed to collaborative initiatives under the ECOWAS Integrated Maritime Strategy. He reiterated that collective action remains the most viable approach to ensuring a safe and secure maritime environment for economic growth and regional stability.
The Fifth Meeting concluded with renewed commitments from member states to deepen naval cooperation, enhance joint operational frameworks, and foster unity of purpose in safeguarding West Africa’s maritime domain.
#NigerianNavy @ecowas_cedeao
#OnwardTogether