The Nigerian Navy has urged African countries to prioritise the integration of maritime defence systems and intelligence-sharing to strengthen regional security and combat transnational crimes in the Gulf of Guinea.
Commodore Isa Ahmed, who represented the Navy at the panel discussion of the 2026 Africa International Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX) in Lagos, said the effectiveness of maritime security operations depended on the ability of naval forces and other security agencies to share intelligence, communicate seamlessly and coordinate responses to emerging threats.
Ahmed made the call while presenting a paper titled, “Interoperability at Sea: Strengthening Maritime Security Through Systems, Standards and Integration,” at the exhibition, warning that gaps in communication and coordination among maritime security institutions could undermine the effectiveness of surveillance equipment and other defence technologies, allowing criminal activities to persist across national maritime boundaries.
According to him, piracy, armed robbery against ships, illegal fishing, maritime trafficking and the illicit movement of goods remain major challenges requiring coordinated responses from countries in West and Central Africa.
He explained that maritime criminals often exploit jurisdictional boundaries and delays in intelligence-sharing to evade detection and law enforcement.
Ahmed stressed that detecting suspicious vessels was only the first step in maritime security operations, noting that intelligence must be accurately assessed, promptly transmitted and acted upon by the appropriate authorities.
“My central argument today is that interoperability must transform separate maritime capabilities into a coordinated operational advantage,” he said.
The commodore identified systems, standards and integration as the three major requirements for achieving effective interoperability among maritime security agencies.
He advocated connecting radar systems, Automatic Identification System data, satellite surveillance, intelligence databases and maritime operations centres to provide security agencies with a more comprehensive understanding of activities at sea.
He said such integration would enable authorised personnel to make informed decisions and improve responses to suspicious maritime activities without necessarily requiring agencies to replace their existing equipment.
Ahmed recommended the adoption of secure interfaces and compatible data-exchange arrangements to enable different surveillance and communication systems to function together.
He also called for common technical standards, operational procedures and incident-reporting systems, warning that differences in data formats, terminology and reporting methods could delay responses even when communication equipment was compatible.
On information security, he maintained that intelligence-sharing must be guided by clear rules, appropriate access controls and safeguards against unauthorised disclosure.
“The aim is not unrestricted information exchange. It is the secure and appropriate exchange of information with those who have the authority and operational need to receive it,” he stated.
Ahmed further emphasised the need for stronger institutional coordination among the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, the Nigerian Ports Authority and law-enforcement agencies.
He said although the institutions had distinct statutory responsibilities, effective maritime security required them to coordinate activities and exchange relevant information whenever their mandates intersected.
The commodore recommended regular joint exercises, operational simulations and structured reviews of maritime security incidents to identify weaknesses and improve collaboration.
He also called for stronger regional cooperation through the Yaoundé Architecture, a framework established following the 2013 Yaoundé Summit to promote information-sharing and coordinated responses to maritime crimes in West and Central Africa.
Ahmed, however, cautioned that the existence of regional coordination centres and information-sharing platforms would not automatically produce effective results without timely intelligence, adequate institutional capacity and clearly defined operational responsibilities.
He urged countries in the Gulf of Guinea to strengthen communication between national maritime operations centres, multinational coordination centres and regional institutions.
He identified joint training, common operational procedures, personnel development and sustainable funding as essential measures for improving regional maritime security.
The naval officer also urged African countries to incorporate interoperability requirements into defence procurement from the planning stage.
He said procuring authorities should specify the communication interfaces, information formats, security arrangements and technical standards new equipment must support before contracts are awarded.
According to him, compatibility should be verified through testing rather than assumed from manufacturers’ claims, adding that proper procurement planning would reduce unnecessary expenditure, prevent duplication and maximise the value of defence investments.
He also warned that greater connectivity could expose maritime systems to cyberattacks, unauthorised access and the circulation of unreliable information, stressing the need to incorporate cybersecurity into the acquisition, operation and maintenance of defence technologies.
Ahmed maintained that technology alone could not guarantee maritime security without trained personnel, clear institutional responsibilities and sustained cooperation among participating countries.
He said the success of interoperability initiatives should be measured by improvements in maritime awareness, intelligence-sharing, operational decision-making and the speed of coordinated responses to security threats.
He concluded that integrating maritime defence capabilities would strengthen the protection of national interests, secure commercial shipping and promote stability across the Gulf of Guinea.
