Why is the U.S Navy Band in Nigeria? Here’s everything we know about its mission
Amidst the anger spreading across Nigeria over the scarcity of fuel and new Naira notes crisis, the activities of the United States Navy Band in Lagos have brought some form of excitement for Nigerians on the internet.
The 13-member Navy Band was seen performing to a live audience at the Creative Arts department of the University of Lagos on Wednesday, February 1, 2023. The Band was also at the Nike Art Gallery in Lagos, on January 29, 2023, where they performed classical and traditional songs and also shared a stage with music star with Jesse ‘Buga’ King.
They have also been seen at other locations across Lagos, making many curious Nigerians wonder why they are in the country barely a month to a crucial election.
Here’s everything we know about its mission in Nigeria
The U.S Navy Band is in Nigeria for the 2023 Obangame Express (OE23), the largest multinational maritime exercise in Western and Central Africa. The OE23, which kicked off in Lagos on January 23, is the 12th edition of the exercise.
The Obangame Express, which is conducted by the U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVAF) and sponsored by U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), is designed to improve regional cooperation, information-sharing practices, and tactical interdiction expertise to enhance the collective capabilities of participating nations to counter Illegal, Unreported, Unregulated (IUU) fishing and other sea-based illicit activity.
“Illicit maritime activity threatens regional development efforts, weakens state security, and robs our African partners of the precious resources upon which they rely for economic growth and effective governance,” Adm. Stuart Munsch, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa was quoted on the U.S Navy website.
In 2021, the then U.S Consul-General, Claire Pierangelo said in a year, Nigeria and other West African countries lose about 800,000 tons of fish worth almost $2 billion in gross revenue, to illegal activities by both foreign and domestic vessels.
“Exercise Obangame Express is an important opportunity to improve our collective capabilities, build trust between our nations, and promote stability in a vitally important part of the world,” Munsch added.
According to the U.S Navy’s official website, the OE23 features both in-port and at-sea training scenarios including maritime operations center familiarization and exchanges on medical care, search and rescue operations, and boarding techniques.
There are 32 nations participating in the 2023 edition of the exercise led by the United States Naval Forces and sponsored by the United States Africa Command.
The 32 nations participating in Obangame Express (OE23) include Angola, Benin, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Canada, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Italy, Liberia, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Congo, Sao Tome & Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Spain, Togo, and the United States.
The exercise takes place across five zones in the southern Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Guinea – stretching from the West African island of Cabo Verde to the Central African shores of Angola, including the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).
The exercise is an opportunity for like-minded partners to work together to develop African-led solutions to shared transnational challenges and promote global security.
