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HNLMS Rotterdam Berths In Lagos For Africa Winds 2013

The Kingdom of the Netherlands has taken steps to improve its relations with Nigeria, with its decision to participate in the African Winds 2013 programme, … Continue reading HNLMS Rotterdam Berths In Lagos For Africa Winds 2013


The Kingdom of the Netherlands has taken steps to improve its relations with Nigeria, with its decision to participate in the African Winds 2013 programme, which begins with the arrival of the HNLMS Rotterdam.

Aboard the ship, as well as offshore, the Netherlands maritime force will conduct joint trainings with its Nigerian counterparts, on issues concerning maritime security, flood control and water management.

The programme forms part of the African partnership station, spearheaded by the US Naval forces.

In the beginning of the month, the Nigerian Armed forces with support from the Netherlands and the United States concluded that there was going to be a joint maritime exercise, tagged the African Winds, and it will commence in Calabar and Lagos states respectively.

According to the Chief of Training And Operations In the Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral Olufemi Ogunjimi, the exercise will further improve the capacity of the Nigerian Armed Forces to deal  with the numerous security challenges in the Gulf of Guinea, especially the stealing of crude oil and attacks on sea vessels.

Exercises to be conducted under the training programme include the amphibious raid, maritime counter terrorism, vessel boarding, stop and search in an opposed environment, oil rig operations, riverine operations and hydrographical survey.

A total of two hundred and twenty one military personnel drawn from the Armed Forces of Nigeria, Morocco, Senegal, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Cameroun, with six hundred and sixty-eight crew members aboard the Netherlands Rotterdam ship will participate in the exercise.