By Adeyinka Adeniran
The Commissioner of Police in charge of the Nigerian Force Marine, Force Headquarters, Abuja, Adepegba Kolawole Adetoye over the weekend said the Government of Denmark has established a bilateral arrangement with Nigeria towards strengthening maritime security through enhanced international cooperation, partnership and capacity-building initiatives.
He made the disclosure while hosting a high-level delegation from the Embassy of Denmark at the Force Headquarters Annex, Lagos.
The meeting had in attendance the Danish delegation led by Mr. Alex Shoebridge, Consultant Tana Copenhagen ApS for the Denmark Maritime Security Programme (DMSP), and Mrs. Oluwatumininu Onamade, Sustainability Lead and Senior Advisor, Maritime Trade Council of Denmark.
According to a release he personally signed, and made available to journalists, CP Adepegba recalled that, “the meeting followed a formal communication from the Embassy of Denmark to the Inspector-General of Police and formed part of ongoing consultations on the implementation of the Denmark Maritime Security Programme (DMSP), which is scheduled to conclude in 2026”.
The Force Marine Officer conveyed the appreciation of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Rilwan Disu, to the Government of Denmark for its unwavering commitment to strengthening maritime security, institutional capacity, and regional cooperation within the Gulf of Guinea. He noted that the longstanding partnership has significantly enhanced the operational capabilities and professionalism of the Nigeria Police Force Marine Department through specialised training, operational support, and knowledge sharing.
He noted that “despite the decline in piracy within the Gulf of Guinea, emerging threats such as crude oil theft, illegal bunkering, trafficking in persons, arms and narcotics smuggling, illegal fishing, environmental crimes, and cyber threats against maritime infrastructure, continue to demand coordinated responses, advanced technology, and sustained investment in human capacity development”.
According to him, “during the engagement, Mr. Alex Shoebridge, reiterated the delegation’s commitment to working closely with the Nigeria Police Force Marine Department in designing the next phase of the Denmark Maritime Security Programme, noting that future interventions would be aligned with the operational priorities of the Marine Department while ensuring continuity of capacity-building efforts, joint exercises, and improved information-sharing mechanisms.
“Both parties reviewed existing achievements under the DMSP and identified key priority areas for future collaboration. These include: advanced maritime training, intelligence-led policing, maritime investigations, forensic science, cyber security, search and rescue operations, underwater investigations, drone operations, tactical medical care, fire safety onboard vessels, modern marine engineering, maritime domain awareness, and the deployment of emerging technologies such as drones, satellite surveillance, secure communication platforms, and artificial intelligence to strengthen operational effectiveness.
“The meeting also underscored the importance of strengthening inter-agency collaboration among the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Nigeria Customs Service, the judiciary, and other relevant stakeholders to improve intelligence sharing, maritime law enforcement, and prosecution of maritime crimes”.
The Force Marine Officer further revealed that there were discussions on the need to establish stronger institutional frameworks for curriculum development, evidence management, crime scene investigation, legal procedures relating to maritime offences, and continuous collaboration with international partners, including Interpol, to improve investigative and prosecutorial outcomes.
While reaffirming the unwavering commitment of the Nigeria Police Force Marine Department to the strategic vision of the Inspector-General of Police in building a modern, professional, intelligence-driven, and responsive Marine Police capable of safeguarding Nigeria’s inland and territorial waters, contributing meaningfully to regional maritime security, Adepegba expressed confidence that “the enduring partnership with the Government of Denmark would continue to advance maritime governance, institutional resilience, and collective security across the Gulf of Guinea”.
