By Esther Oseyimon
The Nigerian Navy has taken a significant step towards strengthening its maritime strike and interdiction capability with the graduation of 20 Special Boat Service operators from an advanced Visit, Board, Search and Seizure Level 2 (VBSS-L2) course conducted in collaboration with the United Kingdom.
The graduation ceremony, held on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at the Headquarters of the Nigerian Navy Special Boat Service (NNSBS) in Ojo, Lagos State, marked the culmination of three weeks of rigorous specialist training facilitated by instructors from the UK’s 42 Commando Royal Marines.
Designed to sharpen operational effectiveness in complex maritime environments, the course focused on advanced boarding operations, close-quarter tactics, maritime search procedures and detailed mission planning under high-risk conditions.
Senior military officials and invited guests attended the ceremony, including the United Kingdom Defence Attaché and Head of British Defence Staff West Africa, Brigadier General Thomas Harper; Staff Officer Grade 2 Maritime, Lieutenant Commander Peter Fairbanks; and the Commanding Officer of NNSBS, Captain Andrew Zidon.
A key highlight of the programme was a Final Training Exercise (FTX) conducted at Ibeshe Beach, where participants demonstrated their newly acquired skills by planning and executing a simulated raid on a target facility associated with a violent extremist group. The exercise showcased improved coordination, discipline and tactical precision among the operators.
Certificates and awards were presented to the graduating personnel as well as members of the British Defence Staff training team, underscoring the depth of defence cooperation between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
The Nigerian Navy said the programme forms part of its ongoing strategy to enhance maritime security through sustained capacity development, operational preparedness and strategic international partnerships aimed at safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime domain and critical offshore assets.