The Government of Denmark has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s maritime security through an expanded bilateral partnership focused on capacity building, intelligence sharing and advanced security technologies.
The renewed collaboration was highlighted during a high-level meeting between officials of the Embassy of Denmark and the Nigeria Police Force Marine Department at the Force Headquarters Annex in Lagos on Friday.
The Commissioner of Police in charge of the Force Marine Department, Adepegba Kolawole Adetoye, received the Danish delegation, which was led by Alex Shoebridge, Consultant at Tana Copenhagen ApS for the Denmark Maritime Security Programme (DMSP), alongside Mrs. Oluwatumininu Onamade, Sustainability Lead and Senior Advisor at the Maritime Trade Council of Denmark.
In a statement personally signed and made available to journalists, CP Adepegba said the engagement followed a formal communication from the Danish Embassy to the Inspector-General of Police and formed part of ongoing consultations on the implementation of the Denmark Maritime Security Programme, which is expected to conclude in 2026.
He conveyed the appreciation of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to the Danish government for its sustained support in enhancing maritime security, institutional capacity and regional cooperation across the Gulf of Guinea.
According to him, the partnership has significantly improved the operational efficiency and professionalism of the Nigeria Police Force Marine Department through specialised training, operational assistance and knowledge exchange programmes.
Although incidents of piracy have reduced considerably in the Gulf of Guinea, Adepegba noted that several other maritime security threats continue to pose significant challenges.
He identified crude oil theft, illegal bunkering, human trafficking, arms and narcotics smuggling, illegal fishing, environmental crimes and cyber attacks targeting maritime infrastructure as key concerns requiring stronger international collaboration, advanced technology and continuous investment in personnel development.
During the meeting, Shoebridge reaffirmed Denmark’s commitment to supporting the next phase of the Denmark Maritime Security Programme.
He said future interventions would be tailored to the operational priorities of the Nigeria Police Force Marine Department while ensuring sustained capacity-building, joint operational exercises and enhanced information-sharing.
Both delegations reviewed achievements recorded under the current programme and agreed on several priority areas for future cooperation.
These include advanced maritime training, intelligence-led policing, maritime investigations, forensic science, cybersecurity, search and rescue operations, underwater investigations, drone operations, tactical medical care, onboard fire safety, marine engineering and maritime domain awareness.
They also discussed the deployment of emerging technologies, including drones, satellite surveillance, secure communication systems and artificial intelligence, to improve operational effectiveness and maritime security enforcement.
The meeting further emphasised the need for stronger collaboration among key maritime and security agencies, including 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 enhance intelligence sharing, law enforcement and prosecution of maritime crimes.
Discussions also focused on strengthening institutional frameworks covering curriculum development, evidence management, crime scene investigation, legal procedures for maritime offences and sustained collaboration with international organisations such as Interpol to improve investigative and prosecutorial outcomes.
Adepegba reiterated the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force Marine Department to the strategic vision of the Inspector-General of Police of building a modern, intelligence-driven and highly responsive marine policing system capable of protecting Nigeria’s inland waterways and territorial waters while contributing to regional maritime security.
He expressed confidence that the longstanding partnership between Nigeria and Denmark would continue to promote stronger maritime governance, institutional resilience and collective security throughout the Gulf of Guinea.
