AKINWALE ABOLUWADE
The Nigeria Police Force and the Government of Denmark have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening maritime security through enhanced international cooperation, capacity building and intelligence sharing.
The Commissioner of Police in charge of the Force Marine Department, Force Headquarters, Abuja, Adepegba Kolawole Adetoye, disclosed this while hosting a high-level delegation from the Embassy of Denmark at the Force Headquarters Annex, Lagos, on Friday.
The Danish delegation was led by Mr. Alex Shoebridge, Consultant, Tana Copenhagen ApS for the Denmark Maritime Security Programme, alongside Mrs. Oluwatumininu Onamade, Sustainability Lead and Senior Adviser, Maritime Trade Council of Denmark.
In a statement he signed on Friday, Adetoye said the meeting followed a formal communication from the Danish Embassy to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, as part of ongoing consultations on the implementation of the Denmark Maritime Security Programme, scheduled to end in 2026.
He conveyed the appreciation of the Inspector-General of Police to the Danish Government for its sustained support in strengthening maritime security, institutional capacity and regional cooperation across the Gulf of Guinea.
According to him, the partnership has significantly improved the operational capabilities and professionalism of the Force Marine Department through specialised training, operational support and knowledge sharing.
Adetoye noted that although piracy had declined in the Gulf of Guinea, emerging threats, including crude oil theft, illegal bunkering, human trafficking, arms and narcotics smuggling, illegal fishing, environmental crimes and cyber threats targeting maritime infrastructure, continued to pose serious security challenges.
He said Shoebridge reaffirmed Denmark’s commitment to collaborating with the Force Marine Department in designing the next phase of the maritime security programme, with future interventions aligned with the department’s operational priorities.
The police commissioner said both parties reviewed the achievements recorded under the programme and identified priority areas for future collaboration, including advanced maritime training, intelligence-led policing, maritime investigations, forensic science, cybersecurity, search and rescue operations, underwater investigations, drone operations, tactical medical care, fire safety aboard vessels, marine engineering, maritime domain awareness and the deployment of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, satellite surveillance and secure communication platforms.
He added that the meeting also emphasised stronger collaboration among the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Nigeria Customs Service, the judiciary and other relevant stakeholders to enhance intelligence sharing, maritime law enforcement and the prosecution of maritime crimes.
Adetoye further disclosed that discussions focused on strengthening institutional frameworks for curriculum development, evidence management, crime scene investigation, legal procedures relating to maritime offences and sustained collaboration with international partners, including Interpol.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Force Marine Department to building a modern, professional and intelligence-driven marine police capable of safeguarding Nigeria’s inland and territorial waters while contributing to regional maritime security.
He expressed confidence that the partnership with Denmark would continue to strengthen maritime governance, institutional resilience and collective security across the Gulf of Guinea.
