By Nkechi Eze
Participants of the 55th Pakistan Navy Staff Course on Wednesday, 4 February 2026, paid a study visit to the Headquarters Western Naval Command, Apapa, Lagos, in a move aimed at deepening professional ties and strengthening maritime cooperation between the Pakistani and Nigerian navies.
The delegation, led by Commodore Mohammed Zahid Zaheer and accompanied by the Pakistan Defence Attaché, Colonel Kamran Mushtaq, was received by senior officers of the Command and taken through a comprehensive briefing on the mandate, structure and operational responsibilities of the Western Naval Command. The presentation provided insights into the Command’s pivotal role in safeguarding Nigeria’s western maritime domain, combating maritime crime, and coordinating closely with other security agencies and maritime stakeholders to ensure safe and secure waters.
As part of the study tour, the visiting officers were conducted around key operational facilities, including the Falcon Eye Centre and the Regional Maritime Awareness Capability Centre, where they were exposed to Nigeria’s integrated maritime surveillance architecture and real-time monitoring capabilities. The delegation also toured Nigerian Navy Ship KADA, gaining first-hand appreciation of the ship’s operational roles, capabilities and contribution to maritime security operations.
Speaking during the visit, the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abubakar Abdullahi Mustapha, described the engagement as a valuable platform for professional exchange, experience-sharing and mutual learning between the two navies. He noted that such interactions foster deeper understanding of contemporary maritime security challenges and promote collective responses to transnational threats such as piracy, sea robbery, illegal fishing and other illicit activities.
Rear Admiral Mustapha reaffirmed the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to sustained cooperation with friendly navies, stressing that collaboration, capacity building and information sharing remain critical to achieving a secure maritime environment in the Gulf of Guinea and beyond. He expressed confidence that the visit would further consolidate the cordial relationship between the Nigerian Navy and the Pakistan Navy.
The delegation, on its part, commended the Nigerian Navy for its professionalism and the depth of its maritime domain awareness initiatives, noting that the experience gained would enrich the participants’ academic and professional development under the Pakistan Navy Staff Course.
The visit underscored the shared commitment of both navies to collective maritime security, enhanced cooperation and the promotion of peace and stability across regional and international waters.
