As Nigeria gets set to deploy maritime security assets acquired under
the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection
Infrastructure, members of the Deep Blue Project Steering Committee have
visited Lagos, Warri, Benin, and Onne to inspect the assets at the
various locations.
The delegation, led by Minister of Defence, Maj-Gen. Bashir Salihi
Magashi (rtd), included Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike
Amaechi, and Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas.
They were joined by Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime
Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Bashir Jamoh, and other
members of the presidential committee on the inspection tour meant to
confirm the readiness of the maritime assets for deployment.
The committee members said they were optimistic about the Integrated
National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, also called
the Deep Blue Project. They held that from what was on the ground, the
project would deliver the national expectation of safety and security in
Nigeria’s waters and the Gulf of Guinea.
Speaking to journalists after the inspection concluded at the weekend,
Magashi, who is also Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Deep
Blue Project, expressed satisfaction with the level of preparedness for
the launch of the assets. He assured of the Federal Government’s
determination to continue to improve security in the country.
Magashi said the specifications of the latest intelligence and military
hardware given to the contractors of the security project would be met.
“So far, so good, I think we are on the right course,” he said.
The defence minister added, “Sea piracy is already being tackled by our
naval men, whose responsibility is to protect our waterways and they are
doing a good job. The Gulf of Guinea is so vast; it involves many
countries, with crimes being committed by citizens of these countries.
But with the acquisition of this security equipment, we should be able
to observe, detect and solve the problem of sea piracy.
“The navy is already containing the situation. Before now, sea piracy
was high, but it has reduced to a situation where I can say we are in
control. The implementation of this project will further help in this
direction.”
Amaechi said the President Muhammadu Buhari government was fulfilling a
critical national aspiration and ambition of a safe and secure maritime
environment where investors, tourists, and operators could confidently
come to do business. He said it was a dream come true and a special
feat, after all the failures of the past administrations.
The minister disclosed that the training programme for professionals who
would man the assets was proceeding as planned, assuring that it would
be concluded soon.
The Director-General of NIMASA, described the planned assets deployment
as the beginning of a new dawn for the Nigerian maritime industry.
Jamoh stated, “We have come a long way in the achievement of this dream,
the dream of staying ahead of the machinations of criminals bent on
thwarting our yearning for maximum benefits from the rich maritime
resources Nature has endowed us with.
“We are deploying technology and advanced domain awareness techniques to
ensure security of our waters, up to the Gulf of Guinea.”
The key components of the Deep Blue Projects are: air, maritime, and
land assets; Command, Control, Communication, Computers and Intelligence
(C4i) Operation Centre; and the training programme. The C4i Centre has
been up and running since last year, while over 80 per cent of the
assets have been delivered and are ready for deployment.
The assets include helicopters, interceptor boats, Unmanned Aerial
Vehicles, Special Mission Aircraft, Special Mission Vessels, and
armoured vehicles, which would be operated by a standby intervention
team, and linked to the C4i Centre. The centre would also be integrated
with the Maritime Intelligence System and the Nigerian Navy’s Falcon Eye
for real time monitoring and reporting of activities within the
country’s maritime space.