The Indian Naval Ship (INS) SUMEDHA, on a goodwill visit to Nigeria, docked at the Lagos port on October 13, 2023. The visit is part of a concerted effort to bolster existing bilateral relations and enhance security in the Gulf of Guinea.
Rear Admiral Mustapha Hassan, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command, welcomed the ship’s arrival. He emphasized that such visits are instrumental in fostering friendship, cooperation, and interoperability between India and Nigeria.
Hassan expressed his welcome to the crew of INS SUMEDHA at the Western Naval Command Headquarters in Apapa, Lagos State. He stated that such visits are in line with the vision of the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla, to enhance security in Nigeria’s maritime domain. Hassan highlighted the longstanding and fruitful relationship with India, which has been beneficial in terms of training support, hardware exchanges, port visits, and exercises.
He emphasized that the collaboration between the two countries contributes to national security and, in this instance, security in the Gulf of Guinea. Hassan also mentioned that a joint exercise named Passex between the Nigerian Navy and the Indian Navy would further strengthen security in the Gulf of Guinea.
Col. Romi Singh Legha, the Indian Defense Attaché to Nigeria, also spoke on the occasion. He stated that the visit aimed to enhance interoperability between the two navies and improve anti-piracy operations. He praised the Nigerian Navy’s instrumental role in controlling piracy in the Gulf of Guinea over the last two years.
Legha announced that INS SUMEDHA would join these operations led by the Nigerian Navy. He also mentioned plans for cross-deck visitations across ships where officers from both countries would visit each other’s ships and conduct onboard training. Furthermore, a small exercise with Nigerian Navy vessels would take place while INS SUMEDHA is present.