Joyce Mmereole Okoli
The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, has approved the appointment of Commodore Reginald Odeodi Adoki as the new Commander of the Maritime Guard Command (MGC) at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). He replaces Commodore H.C. Oriekeze, who has been redeployed.
Commodore Adoki, a principal warfare officer with core expertise in communication and intelligence, brings 25 years of operational, training and staff experience in the Nigerian Navy. A seasoned seaman, he previously commanded NNS Andoni, NNS Kyanwa, and NNS Kada, under whose command NNS Kada undertook its maiden voyage from the United Arab Emirates to Nigeria.
Commissioned into the Nigerian Navy in 2000 with a BSc in Mathematics, Adoki has since expanded his academic profile with a Master’s degree in International Law and Diplomacy from the University of Lagos and an M.Sc in Terrorism, Security and Policing from the University of Leicester.
He is currently pursuing a PhD in Defence and Security Studies at the National Defence Academy. A highly decorated officer, he holds several medals in recognition of distinguished service.
Welcoming the new MGC Commander, NIMASA Director General Dr. Dayo Mobereola expressed confidence that Adoki’s depth of experience will further bolster the nation’s maritime security architecture. He noted that the Agency looks forward to enhanced collaboration with the Navy in safeguarding Nigeria’s territorial waters.
The Maritime Guard Command, domiciled within NIMASA, was established under the Memorandum of Understanding with the Nigerian Navy to strengthen operational efficiency, particularly in enforcing security, safety, and other maritime regulations across the country’s waterways.