The Nigerian Navy and the Indonesian Navy have stepped up bilateral maritime cooperation following the arrival of Indonesian hydrographic vessel KRI Canopus 936 at the Western Naval Command (WNC), Apapa, Lagos, in a move aimed at strengthening collaboration in marine technology, hydrographic operations and maritime security.
KRI Canopus 936, a specialised hydrographic and oceanographic research vessel with advanced underwater capabilities, is expected to remain in Lagos for several days, during which its crew will participate in professional exchanges and knowledge-transfer exercises with personnel of the Western Naval Command.
Welcoming the visiting delegation on behalf of the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abubakar Mustapha, described the port call as a clear reflection of Indonesia’s commitment to deepening defence and naval relations with Nigeria.
Rear Admiral Mustapha noted that the visit came barely six weeks after the deployment of Indonesian frigate KRI Prabu Siliwangi to Nigeria, saying the back-to-back engagements underscore the growing momentum in bilateral naval cooperation between both countries.
He said Nigeria stands to benefit significantly from the advanced hydrographic capabilities of KRI Canopus 936, particularly its remotely operated and autonomous underwater vehicles used for seabed mapping, hydrographic surveys and oceanographic data collection.
According to him, both navies are expected to explore broader areas of cooperation, including hydrographic surveys, maritime domain awareness and anti-piracy operations.
The FOC drew parallels between Indonesia’s collaborative security framework in the Malacca Strait with Malaysia and Singapore and the ECOWAS Integrated Maritime Strategy Zone E, which brings together Nigeria, Benin Republic and Togo in efforts to secure the Gulf of Guinea.
He further stated that enhanced cooperation in hydrography would improve understanding of Nigeria’s marine resources, ocean circulation patterns and fisheries habitats within the country’s maritime domain.
Rear Admiral Mustapha also disclosed that both sides are considering technical exchanges between hydrographic personnel as part of efforts to strengthen professional capacity, improve operational procedures and boost interoperability.
Speaking during the visit, the Commanding Officer of KRI Canopus 936, Captain Indra Giri, said the vessel was specifically designed for hydrographic and oceanographic research and fitted with sophisticated sensors for measuring bathymetry, temperature and conductivity, all of which are critical to safe navigation and marine data collection.
The visit is expected to further reinforce Nigeria-Indonesia naval ties and open new opportunities for collaboration in maritime research, operational capability development and regional security coordination.
