By Ameh Gabriel
Port Harcourt, Nigeria – June 24, 2025
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Nigerian Army, and Land Component Commander of Joint Task Force South-South, Operation DELTA SAFE (OPDS), Major General Emmanuel Eric Emekah, on Tuesday, received participants of the Naval Warfare Course 9 from the Naval War College (NWC), Calabar, who are on a five-day operational study tour to Rivers State.
The delegation, led by the Commandant of the Naval War College, Rear Admiral Akinola Olodude, paid a courtesy visit to the GOC at the 6 Division Headquarters in Port Harcourt. The tour, themed “Optimising Technology for Effective Maritime Security Operations,” forms a critical part of the course curriculum, aimed at enhancing participants’ exposure to inter-service collaboration and field operations.
In his welcome address, Major General Emekah expressed appreciation for the visit, describing it as timely and essential for fostering joint operational efficiency among Nigeria’s security forces. He noted that the study tour would provide invaluable insights to the course participants, many of whom will be deployed in field operations where joint task force synergy is crucial.
“I urge you to take full advantage of this opportunity by learning from the experiences shared across all components Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, and other security agencies,” Emekah said. “Understanding the realities of joint operations on the ground will enhance your ability to develop strategic solutions to security challenges.”
Rear Admiral Olodude, in his remarks, commended the GOC for the warm reception and ongoing collaboration with the College. He recalled Major General Emekah’s recent lecture at the War College, which he said greatly enriched the participants’ understanding of joint operations.
“The purpose of this tour is to explore how advanced technologies can be applied across service lines to modernize military operations, reduce operational costs, and minimize casualties,” Rear Admiral Olodude said. “Engaging with field commanders such as the GOC will help shape the mindset of participants in tackling real-world operational challenges.”
He noted that the course would culminate in the submission of practical recommendations based on observations made during the study tour, which would be forwarded to appropriate authorities for consideration and implementation.
The visiting team comprised the Deputy Commandant and Director of Studies, seven faculty members, 28 support staff, and 30 course participants. Among the participants were 21 Commanders from the Nigerian Navy, two Lieutenant Colonels from the Army, two Wing Commanders from the Air Force, and one representative from the National Defense College. The team also included four allied participants two Commanders from Cameroon, one Commander from Ghana, and a Lieutenant Commander from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The operational tour is expected to deepen inter-agency understanding and improve participants’ capacity to manage complex security operations in Nigeria’s maritime and coastal regions.
