The Nigerian Navy began a new phase of maritime cooperation with Indonesia on April 1, 2026, when the Indonesian hydrographic vessel KRI Canopus 936 arrived at the Western Naval Command (WNC) in Apapa, Lagos. This port call follows a six-week visit of the Indonesian frigate KRI Prabu Siliwangi 321, marking the most active period of naval diplomacy between the two nations since the mid-1990s.
Rear Admiral Abubakar Mustapha, the Flag Officer Commanding of the Western Naval Command, received the vessel on behalf of Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, the Chief of the Naval Staff. Mustapha noted that the back-to-back deployments show a “renewed phase” of Indonesian commitment to deepening bilateral defence relations. The Indonesian Defence Attaché visit serves as a practical application of the 2023 Letter of Intent signed between the two nations, which covers capacity building, intelligence sharing, and equipment collaboration.
The KRI Canopus 936 is an oceanographic research vessel built through a partnership between Indonesia and Germany. It is designed to meet International Hydrographic Organisation standards for deep-sea mapping and safety of navigation. The ship carries advanced sensors to measure bathymetry, water temperature, and conductivity. Its primary mission during this stay involves sharing expertise in the use of autonomous underwater vehicles and remotely operated systems.
Captain Indra Giri, commanding officer of the KRI Canopus, noted that the vessel operates under International Hydrographic Organisation standards, providing a framework for Nigerian sailors to adopt global best practices in maritime survey work.
Rear Admiral Mustapha described the visit as a practical expression of foreign policy. “There is no gainsaying that what we see is a subset of diplomacy, specifically naval diplomacy, and the importance of foreign policy. It enables us to exercise together, to train with equipment, and in some cases, depending on the nature, to offer humanitarian assistance in the process.”
During the visit, crews from both navies are participating in joint drills at the Western Naval Command. These sessions focus on seabed surveys and the collection of oceanographic data to improve maritime domain awareness. The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), WNC, Rear Admiral Mustapha, emphasised that understanding ocean circulation patterns and fisheries habitats is essential for managing Nigeria’s marine resources. Technical exchanges between hydrographic personnel aim to standardise operational procedures for future joint missions.
The partnership also addresses broader maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea. Nigeria is looking to Indonesia’s experience in the Malacca Strait as a model for regional security. Indonesia successfully manages the Malacca Strait through coordinated patrols with Malaysia and Singapore, a strategy Nigeria hopes to mirror within the ECOWAS Integrated Maritime Strategy Zone E, which includes the Benin Republic and Togo.
Advancing indigenous production and regional security
The Indonesian government has actively pursued defence sales and manufacturing partnerships in West Africa. In January 2022, Indonesian Ambassador Usra Harahap met with Nigeria’s National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) to propose the indigenous joint production of military equipment, weapons and aircraft. This potential industrial shift follows a trend of increasing Indonesian defence exports to African nations, including Senegal and Gabon.
Earlier in 2017, some African countries showed interest in acquiring warships from an Indonesian state-owned Shipbuilding company, PAL. PT PAL’S Chief Executive Officer, Mr Saleh Budiman, said on Thursday, the 13th of July, that his company is looking to request permission and an export licence from the Indonesian Government to build and export some ships to the African countries.
Nigeria has already demonstrated a growing capacity for local shipbuilding. On December 8, 2021, the Nigerian Navy commissioned the NNS Oji (P275), the third Seaward Defence Boat built entirely by Nigerian engineers at the Naval Dockyard in Lagos. The Oji is the largest iteration of the series and is designed specifically for long-range patrols in deep-sea environments. Integrating Indonesian sensor technology or design expertise could further improve future iterations of these locally built hulls.
The current engagement focuses on three primary pillars: maritime domain awareness, hydrographic surveys, and anti-piracy operations. By improving survey capabilities, the Nigerian Navy can better secure oil assets and meet production targets by identifying underwater threats or infrastructure vulnerabilities. The collaboration is a key component of Nigeria’s force modernisation effort as it prepares for larger regional roles.
The Indonesian Defence Attaché confirmed that these technical sessions are scheduled to continue throughout the week. These efforts are timed to support the planned launch of the Gulf of Guinea Task Force in mid-2026. That task force will serve as the primary mechanism for regional maritime surveillance and threat response.
The Nigerian Navy is planning a reciprocal visit to Indonesian waters. This would likely involve one of the Nigerian Navy’s newer offshore patrol vessels and would serve as a final evaluation of Indonesian naval hardware before any formal procurement contracts are signed. Success in the current hydrographic drills will likely determine the scale of joint exercises planned for late 2026.