Maritime safety: IGP commissions 31 newly acquired gunboats 

June 5, 2025

The Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun on Thursday commissioned 31 newly acquired operational gun boats for the Force Marine Unit.

In a statement by the Force PRO, Olumuyiwa Adejobi on Thursday,  they were commissioned at a ceremony in Lagos, marking a significant investment in maritime security aimed at enhancing the Unit’s capacity to combat crime, protect waterways, and ensure the safety and security of citizens and critical infrastructure within Nigeria’s maritime domain.

In his remarks, the IGP buttressed that the milestone reflects a strategic response of the Force to the evolving security dynamics in our maritime environment.

“The deployment of these assets is a symbol of our renewed drive to strengthen our maritime policing architecture, counter emerging threats, reinforce our rescue and patrol operations.

The newly commissioned gun boats which are equipped with cutting-edge navigation and communication technologies, comes as follow up to the IGPs assurances on maritime security which he gave during the visit of the CEO Nigerian Shippers Council to the Force Headquarters earlier this week.

The IGP reiterated the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to working in collaboration with other security agencies and stakeholders to ensure the safety and security of Nigeria’s maritime environment, charging officers of the Force Marine Unit to put the gun boats to good use towards combating economic sabotage and ensuring our waterways are safe for smooth port operations .