Idi Abbas, the chief of the Naval Staff, has approved the appointment of Reginald Adoki as Commander of the Maritime Guard Command (MGC) at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

Adoki is a principal warfare officer specialising in communication and intelligence, with 25 years of service in the Nigerian Navy spanning training, staff, and operational commands. He succeeds H.C. Oriekeze, who has been redeployed.

Over the course of his career at sea, he has commanded three vessels including NNS Andoni, NNS Kyanwa, and NNS Kada. Notably, it was under his command that NNS Kada completed her maiden voyage from the United Arab Emirates, where she was built, to Nigeria.

Adoki was commissioned into the Nigerian Navy in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. He holds a Master’s in International Law and Diplomacy from the University of Lagos and an MSc in Terrorism, Security and Policing from the University of Leicester, England. He is currently a doctoral candidate in Defence and Security Studies at the National Defence Academy.

Dayo Mobereola, director general of NIMASA, said that the appointment would further reinforce Nigeria’s maritime security architecture, citing his extensive operational experience as a valuable asset to the team.

The Maritime Guard Command was established under a Memorandum of Understanding between NIMASA and the Nigerian Navy to bolster operational efficiency in Nigeria’s territorial waters, with a focus on enforcing maritime security, safety, and regulatory compliance.

Bethel Olujobi reports on trade and maritime business for BusinessDay with prior experience reporting on migration, labour, and tech. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Mass Communication from the University of Jos, and is certified by the FT, Reuters and Google. Drawing from his experience working with other respected news providers, he presents a nuanced and informed perspective on the complexities of critical matters. He is based in Lagos, Nigeria and occasionally commutes to Abuja.

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