IBM has removed Nigeria as a country prone to piracy (FOC).

Nigeria is no longer on the international list of countries prone to piracy by the International Maritime Bureau.

The Flag Officer Commanding of the Eastern Naval Command, Admiral Saheed Akinwande made this known yesterday during the graduation ceremony of twenty officers from the Navy War College Calabar.

They graduated from course seven after an intensive three-week training that started on October 14, 2024.

Akinwande said Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea had until recently witnessed significant cases of piracy, piracy and kidnapping.

He explained that after concerted efforts by the Nigerian Navy, they have drastically reduced the number of such cases in recent times.

“This state of affairs underlines the critical place of capacity building in the Nigerian Navy and the role of its training institutions in achieving sustainable security on the country’s waterways,” he said.

He charged the twenty graduates to contribute positively to the discharge of the statutory responsibilities of the Navy and to be good ambassadors of the college.

The officers were tasked to build teams, not just a group of people, by understanding the strengths and weaknesses of their team members for effective deployment.

Akinwande said: “Completing this course is designed to better prepare you for the challenges you will face over the course of your career.

“The very best of you in terms of dedication and loyalty to the service and country is expected.”

Also speaking, Commander of the College, Admiral Abdullahi Ahmed said they have laid a solid professional foundation for the participants to be more effective in the field.

“You will need to integrate the practical experiences you have gained to enhance the command and leadership skills you have learned.

“It is up to you to build on the knowledge acquired, through further efforts for self-development, perseverance and tact.

“It is pertinent to state that the process of becoming effective commanders at the tactical level requires much sacrifice and tremendous effort.

“However, it is the price that must be paid for success in the field,” he said.