How the Nigerian Navy is Bolstering Maritime Surveillance through RMAC Trainings

In a region where the sea is an economic lifeline, the Nigerian Navy is doubling down on its maritime defences and rightfully so. Recently, 29 graduands were churned out from Course 13, Batch 13 of the Regional Maritime Awareness Capability (RMAC) centre to join the elite network of surveillance operators tasked with monitoring the Gulf of Guinea waters. Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that their graduation was not just a personal milestone, but a quiet reinforcement of the country’s bid to maintain and sustain control over its maritime domain

Undoubtedly, the Gulf of Guinea remains a strategic maritime domain with immense economic potential. Yet the wide range of security challenges that threaten both littoral and landlocked states, while daunting, are not insurmountable.

From sea robbery to drug and human trafficking, pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft, illegal and unregulated fishing, proliferation of small arms and light weapons, and environmental degradation — the challenges are enormous.

The need to tackle these threats gave birth to the Regional Maritime Awareness Capability (RMAC) training.

Designed as a gruelling technical programme to transform naval personnel into the eyes and ears of Nigeria’s vast maritime domain, the training recently churned out 29 graduands of Course 13, Batch 13.

On May 8, 2026, what took place at the Officers’ Mess of the Nigerian Navy Ship BEECROFT in Apapa, Lagos, was no ordinary passing-out ceremony. For the graduands, the sea they were returning to protect was dangerous, contested, and unforgiving, meaning nothing less than their best would suffice.

In his opening remarks, Commander E.E. Omokhodion, Commandant of the RMAC Training School, did not mince words when describing the environment his graduates were heading into.

“The Gulf of Guinea remains a strategic maritime domain with immense economic potential. However, it continues to face a wide range of security challenges that threaten the economic lifelines of both littoral and landlocked states,” he said.

The list of those challenges was long and sobering, including sea robbery, drug and human trafficking, pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft, illegal and unregulated fishing, proliferation of small arms and light weapons, and environmental degradation.

These, Omokhodion noted, “remain a source of concern not only within the region but also to the international community, because no meaningful development can thrive in an atmosphere of insecurity within the global commons.”

Why This Training Matters

The RMAC system is not a peripheral programme. It sits at the heart of Nigeria’s bid to assert control over its maritime spaces — a network of Maritime Domain Awareness Centres established across West and Central Africa in partnership with the United States Government, built to give naval commanders real-time visibility over what moves on their waters.

The training boosts the Navy’s operational capacity to monitor waterways, combat illegal activities, and secure the Gulf of Guinea. It equips naval ratings and officers with the technical expertise needed to operate radar systems, track vessels in real time, and maintain surveillance equipment.

The Special Guest of Honour, Commodore A.O. Odejebi, Director of Maritime Domain Awareness, noted that the system has become vital to Nigerian Navy operations, pointing to a recent institutional development that signals a shift in priorities at the highest level.

“The Nigerian Navy has recently promulgated a Naval Order establishing and upgrading Maritime Domain Awareness as a Department. That shows the level of confidence and importance the Nigerian Navy places on the Department,” he said.

The practical implications were equally significant. The RMAC system, Commodore Odejebi explained, “enables Nigerian Navy ships on patrol to be vectored to vessels of interest almost with precision” — a capability that directly sharpens the Navy’s ability to intercept threats before they escalate.

A Challenge to the Graduates

When congratulations came, they arrived wrapped in responsibility. Commodore Odejebi was direct in his charge to the new graduates. “I will like to implore you to apply what you have learnt on this course appropriately whenever the need arises,” he said, adding that the graduates were now “in the pool of officers and ratings that can be appointed or drafted to replace the personnel serving in the RMAC Centres”.

But classroom learning, he warned, was only the beginning. Those who felt gaps in their understanding were urged to address them and not ignore them. “If there are areas or aspects of the course which you did not fully comprehend, you must find time to visit the RMAC Centres in your command to get further clarification and familiarisation with the system.”

Commander Omokhodion echoed that call with equal urgency. “I urge you to seek clarification where necessary and to continually update your knowledge in response to the evolving dynamics of maritime crime within Nigeria’s maritime domain,” he said. “This will undoubtedly enhance your effectiveness in the discharge of your duties.”

“As I congratulate you on the successful completion of this course, I must remind you of the enormous responsibilities that lie ahead. You are expected to apply the knowledge acquired with diligence and professionalism when deployed to a Centre.”

“You came for this training as Nigerian Navy personnel, but now you have become members of the Nigerian Navy Maritime Domain Awareness family.”

Commander Omokhodion expressed profound gratitude to the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, for providing the enabling environment, resources, and unwavering support for the successful conduct of the course. 

He also commended Commodore Odejebi for his sustained interest in the training, which he said provided the motivation needed to overcome challenges and ensure the ceremony’s success.

Commodore Odejebi, in turn, extended appreciation to the instructors “for their efforts and diligence in imparting the requisite knowledge to the trainees.”

For the 29 graduates of RMAC Course 13, Batch 13, they left with them more than certificates but a mandate that the  GoG will not secure itself, thus Nigeria must continue to push back.