British Defence College visits Western Naval Command

The British Royal College of Defence Studies on Thursday paid a courtesy visit to Nigeria’s Western Naval Command while on study tour to assess threats to global security stability and prosperity.

Rear Admiral Steve Dainton, Senior Directing Staff, British Royal College of Defence Studies, said that the tour was part of a year-long course to understudy threats to security stability and prosperity in the world.

“The course is an educational course and not particularly specific about maritime security.

“We are here looking at various threats to global security stability and prosperity ranging from all kinds of subjects including climate change, population growth and the rise of artificial intelligence.

FOC, Western Naval Command, Rear Adm. Michael Oamen, giving souvenir to Senior Directing Staff, British Royal College of Defence Studies, Rear Adm. Steve Dainton

“We are also looking at how nations deal with criminality. This is what has brought us to Western Naval Command, to hear from its experience,” he said.

Dainton said that he led a 16-man delegation from 11 different countries from the Royal College of Defence Studies on the study tour.

“We have so far been in Senegal and Nigeria; our next stop will be South Africa.

“The course has given us the opportunity to visit Western Naval Command, and it is a great privilege to be here.

“The relationship between the UK and Nigeria is strong, particularly that between Royal Navy and the Nigerian Navy which dates back to many decades,” he said.

The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command, Rear Adm. Michael Oamen, said that a lot of Nigerian naval officers attended the college and it was rewarding.

Oamen said that the Nigerian Navy and the Royal College of Defence Studies had a long history of collaboration in terms of training and capacity buildin, among other things.

“We are happy to have this delegation to find out what we are doing in the Gulf of Guinea.

“We have so much going on in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) and have provided measures to curb all forms of organised crime within that region.

The FOC said that measures such as collaborating with the navies of countries within the GoG, organising developmental capacity programmes, improved maritime awareness capabilities, joint exercises, and trainings had helped yield the desired result.

Oamen also said that the command had to look into the issue of legal framework for criminals caught at sea to ensure that such cases would be handled effectively and reduced to the barest minimum.

“All these measures have helped to facilitate trade within the GoG and ensure that the economic wellbeing of Nigeria is guaranteed,” he said. (NAN)