Indonesian Navy Ship Visits Western Naval Command, Strengthens Nigeria-Indonesia Defence Cooperation

Chiemelie Ezeobi

The Western Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy in Apapa, Lagos, on Wednesday hosted the Indonesian Navy Ship, KRI Canopus 936, in a port visit aimed at strengthening defence cooperation between Nigeria and Indonesia. 

Welcoming the delegation on behalf of Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, the Chief of the Naval Staff, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abdullahi Abubakar Mustapha, said the visit reflected the growing relationship between the two countries and their naval forces.

The FOC noted that the arrival of the vessel came shortly after a previous visit by an Indonesian frigate, a development he said demonstrated sustained engagement and collaboration between both navies.

Rear Admiral Mustapha explained that the 105 metre hydrographic and oceanographic vessel possesses specialised capabilities for deep sea operations, including the use of remotely operated and autonomous underwater vehicles for exploration and data gathering.

He said such technology would be beneficial to Nigeria, particularly in improving maritime domain awareness, advancing oceanographic research, and supporting the mapping of vital underwater resources.

 He further highlighted the importance of collaboration, particularly in hydrography, and expressed interest in partnerships with Nigerian Navy Ship LANA and OCHUZO during the course of the Port Call.

The FOC also highlighted existing areas of cooperation between Nigeria and Indonesia, including officer training programmes and a 2023 letter of intent that focuses on capacity building, intelligence sharing, and equipment acquisition.

According to him, collaboration in hydrography presents significant opportunities for Nigeria as the country continues efforts to better understand and manage its maritime environment, which contains valuable natural resources such as hydrocarbons and fisheries. 

Rear Admiral Mustapha further observed similarities between maritime security challenges in the Gulf of Guinea and those in Southeast Asia, noting that both regions could benefit from sharing operational experiences, particularly in tackling piracy and enhancing maritime surveillance.

In his remarks, the Commanding Officer of KRI Canopus 936, Captain Indragiri, said the vessel was built through a partnership between Indonesia and Germany and is equipped with advanced hydrographic systems capable of operating at depths of up to 2,000 metres.

He explained that the ship departed Germany on March 14 on a 56 day voyage to Indonesia, with Lagos serving as one of five scheduled ports of call, just as he also commended the warm reception received in Nigeria and expressed confidence that cooperation between the two navies would continue to grow.

Meanwhile, further activities lined up for the visit included sporting engagements and other social interactions aimed at fostering camaraderie between personnel of both navies.