On News Central TV’s Maritime Radar—and later on TVC News—Rear Admiral (Rtd.) Francis Akpan, former Flag Officer Commanding (Training Command) of the Nigerian Navy, explained how technology, intelligence and doctrine now work in concert to secure Nigeria’s coastline and revitalise its blue economy.
He credited three pillars for success: Falcon Eye’s nationwide sensor network, mission-oriented deployments that concentrate assets on high-risk zones, and regional information-sharing that enables cross-border interdictions in the Gulf of Guinea.
Redefining Naval Doctrine
“Pre-Falcon Eye we relied on routine patrols with limited awareness,” Akpan noted. “Now data directs every patrol. Operators in the Control Centre fuse coastal radar, Over-the-Horizon Radar (OTHR), EO/IR, AIS and satellite feeds, then push precise cueing vectors to ships at sea. We no longer burn fuel hoping to find trouble; trouble lights up first on our screens.”
Falcon Eye has also normalised joint tasking with Customs, NPA and neighbouring navies. Real-time track-sharing lets allied patrol boats converge on a suspect within minutes, cutting off escape routes.
Mission Results: Piracy Falls, Oil Theft Disrupted
Since the system reached full capability, reported pirate attacks off Nigeria have plunged by over 90 %, and dozens of tankers and barges involved in illegal bunkering have been seized. Akpan highlighted the MT Heroic Idun case, where Falcon Eye alerts enabled interception of a 330 m super-tanker attempting to load two million barrels without clearance.
“Each protected cargo means hundreds of millions of dollars retained in national coffers,” he said, underscoring plans to extend coverage inland via Hawk Eye back-water sensor sites and UAV overwatch.
- Watch the full Maritime Radar interview: YouTube
- Catch the TVC News clip: LinkedIn
- See viewers’ reactions: News Central feed
At RTcom we are proud to deliver the technology backbone behind Falcon Eye—and soon Hawk Eye. Talk to our team about deploying data-driven maritime security in your region.
Keywords: Rear Admiral Francis Akpan, Nigerian Navy, Falcon Eye, Hawk Eye, Maritime Radar, TVC News, Blue Economy, Gulf of Guinea, Maritime Security, Oil Theft
