A delegation from the European Union Gulf of Guinea Inter-Regional Network (EU-GoGIN), led by Strategic Director Mr. Sam Megwa, on Friday, 4th October 2024 paid a courtesy visit to Nigeria’s Naval Headquarters. The delegation was warmly received by the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla.
During the meeting, Mr. Megwa expressed his appreciation to the CNS for hosting the delegation and highlighted EU-GoGIN’s long-standing collaboration with ECOWAS, ECCAS, and the Gulf of Guinea Commission to enhance maritime security in the region. He noted that the visit aimed to discuss the handover of the Yaounde Architecture Regional Information System (YARIS) to regional navies, a key development in their partnership. He also commended the Nigerian Navy (NN) personnel who had recently been trained to operate the YARIS system and reflected on his positive experiences from the Navy Week celebrations earlier in the year. Looking ahead, Mr. Megwa expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming Heads of Navies of the Gulf of Guinea meeting scheduled for November.
Vice Admiral Ogalla, in his response, thanked Mr. Megwa and his delegation for their visit, acknowledging the critical support of the EU in strengthening the capabilities of Gulf of Guinea navies. He fully endorsed the YARIS handover, emphasizing that the Heads of Navies meeting would provide a valuable platform to coordinate the transition. The CNS also reiterated the importance of sustained international cooperation in tackling the transnational challenges of maritime security, reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to working with the EU to safeguard the Gulf of Guinea.
The EU-GoGIN delegation included Rear Admiral Solomon Agada (rtd), Mr. Zissimos Vergas, Ms. Celine Lhoste, and Ms. Therese Carlbrand.
