UK warship arrives Nigeria to support maritime security

On Sunday, HMS Trent, a warship of the Royal Navy, docked in Lagos, Nigeria.

Trent is now in Nigeria for the second time as part of its regional mission to support allies and partners in combating criminal activities like piracy and illicit trafficking.

The visit would aid in delivering capacity training and supporting maritime security in the area, the British High Commission said in a statement.

The HMS Trent, according to the commission, left Gibraltar with a Puma surveillance drone and a skilled boarding team of UK Royal Marines. The HMS Trent’s mission, according to the commission, is to support West African allies by assisting nations to build their capacity to combat maritime crimes and ensure they can effectively contribute to the stabilisation of wider West Africa.A portion of Trent’s mandate is to promote stability in the Gulf of Guinea by training partner navies to help them take the battle to criminal actors, fostering relationships and sharing knowledge, while conducting patrols to boost security. This is because the region is home to about £6 billion worth of UK trade.

Commander Tim Langford, the commanding officer of HMS Trent, stated that the Royal Navy has a long history of engagement in the area and a strong collaboration with the Nigerian Armed Forces. My team is eagerly looking forward to the chance to collaborate with their Nigerian peers and strengthen the bonds we started when we went to Lagos in 2021.

Jonny Baxter, the UK’s deputy high commissioner in Lagos, said the deployment showed how a genuinely global Britain is assuming leadership roles to address common global security concerns.
Nigeria is a crucial and valued partner for the UK in West Africa’s defence, according to Baxter. We are eager to collaborate with Nigeria to overcome these dangers and contribute to enhancing marine security in the Gulf of Guinea as our two nations face numerous common threats.