y Onyeche Igwe
~As the 2024 Graduation Ceremony of the Advance Combat Training Program for the Maritime Security Unit of the Deep Blue Project holds in PH
The Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, said Nigeria is no longer in the piracy hot list of the international community. He made this statement today at the 2024 Graduation Ceremony of the Advanced Combat Training Program for the Maritime Security Unit of the Deep Blue Project at 5 Battalion Nigeria Army, Elele Barrack, Rivers State.
The Deep Blue Project was designed for specific goals, each is vital to the safety and security in the Nigerian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as well as for the country’s economy. The objectives of the Deep Blue Project includes: a true and real time presentation of an integrated maritime situation picture of the Nigerian waters, creation of quality targets for operation based on Intelligence, prevention of illegal activity in the Nigerian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), enforcement of maritime regulations, enhancing the safety of lives and property at the maritime environment, prevention of illegal activities in the sea and the inland waterways, enhancing the enforcement capabilities of NIMASA to generate revenue.
The honourable Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, during his keynote address noted that the event is not just a graduation ceremony but also a testament of hardwork, dedication and commitment to securing the nation’s maritime domain. He reminded the graduates that they have the responsibilities of safeguarding the waters and ensuring that they remain safe, secure and free from all forms of threats.
In his his address, the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency, Adegboyega Oyetola, said the Deep Blue Project is pivotal in strengthening the national security and ensuring safety of Nigeria waterways. He maintained that the project was initiated by the Federal Government and championed by NIMASA. He assured the graduates that His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has demonstrated his unwavering support for maritime security.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Maritime Transport, Senator Wasiu Sanni Eshinlokun, remarked that the graduation ceremony marks the transformative milestone in the collective endeavours of Nigerians to secure the nation’s maritime domain. He also said that the addition of these highly trained personnel to the Deep Blue Project is a testament of NIMASA’s unwavering commitment to creating a crime-free maritime environment for Nigeria and global maritime community.
Acording to the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral E.I Ogalla, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Command, Rear Admiral S.A Akinwande, the components of the project include: the establishment of the special force – Maritime Security Unit (MSU) with 337 highly trained and well Equipped operatives, two Special Mission Aircrafts (SMAs) with ASIO (Airborne Surveillance, Intelligence & Observation) System, three Special Mission Helicopters (SMHs) for search, rescue and intervention by the Maritime Security Unit, sixteen Armored Vehicles for Maritime Security Unit, seventeen Interceptor for Maritime Security Unit, two Special Mission Vessels (SMVs) with Intelligence mission equipment onboard, four Unmanned Ariel Systems (UAS) each consists of 3 UAVs, communication equipment (VHF, HF), C4I Command and Control Center including maritine intelligence system, dynamic maritime security awareness software & Cyber Intelligence, training of all operational forces.
