As Nigeria gets set to deploy maritime security assets acquired under
\nthe Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection
\nInfrastructure, members of the Deep Blue Project Steering Committee have
\nvisited Lagos, Warri, Benin, and Onne to inspect the assets at the
\nvarious locations.<\/p>\n
The delegation, led by Minister of Defence, Maj-Gen. Bashir Salihi
\nMagashi (rtd), included Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike
\nAmaechi, and Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas.<\/p>\n
They were joined by Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime
\nAdministration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Bashir Jamoh, and other
\nmembers of the presidential committee on the inspection tour meant to
\nconfirm the readiness of the maritime assets for deployment.<\/p>\n
The committee members said they were optimistic about the Integrated
\nNational Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, also called
\nthe Deep Blue Project. They held that from what was on the ground, the
\nproject would deliver the national expectation of safety and security in
\nNigeria’s waters and the Gulf of Guinea.<\/p>\n
Speaking to journalists after the inspection concluded at the weekend,
\nMagashi, who is also Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Deep
\nBlue Project, expressed satisfaction with the level of preparedness for
\nthe launch of the assets. He assured of the Federal Government’s
\ndetermination to continue to improve security in the country.<\/p>\n
Magashi said the specifications of the latest intelligence and military
\nhardware given to the contractors of the security project would be met.
\n“So far, so good, I think we are on the right course,” he said.<\/p>\n
The defence minister added, “Sea piracy is already being tackled by our
\nnaval men, whose responsibility is to protect our waterways and they are
\ndoing a good job. The Gulf of Guinea is so vast; it involves many
\ncountries, with crimes being committed by citizens of these countries.
\nBut with the acquisition of this security equipment, we should be able
\nto observe, detect and solve the problem of sea piracy.<\/p>\n
“The navy is already containing the situation. Before now, sea piracy
\nwas high, but it has reduced to a situation where I can say we are in
\ncontrol. The implementation of this project will further help in this
\ndirection.”<\/p>\n
Amaechi said the President Muhammadu Buhari government was fulfilling a
\ncritical national aspiration and ambition of a safe and secure maritime
\nenvironment where investors, tourists, and operators could confidently
\ncome to do business. He said it was a dream come true and a special
\nfeat, after all the failures of the past administrations.<\/p>\n
The minister disclosed that the training programme for professionals who
\nwould man the assets was proceeding as planned, assuring that it would
\nbe concluded soon.<\/p>\n
The Director-General of NIMASA, described the planned assets deployment
\nas the beginning of a new dawn for the Nigerian maritime industry.<\/p>\n
Jamoh stated, “We have come a long way in the achievement of this dream,
\nthe dream of staying ahead of the machinations of criminals bent on
\nthwarting our yearning for maximum benefits from the rich maritime
\nresources Nature has endowed us with.<\/p>\n
“We are deploying technology and advanced domain awareness techniques to
\nensure security of our waters, up to the Gulf of Guinea.”<\/p>\n
The key components of the Deep Blue Projects are: air, maritime, and
\nland assets; Command, Control, Communication, Computers and Intelligence
\n(C4i) Operation Centre; and the training programme. The C4i Centre has
\nbeen up and running since last year, while over 80 per cent of the
\nassets have been delivered and are ready for deployment.<\/p>\n
The assets include helicopters, interceptor boats, Unmanned Aerial
\nVehicles, Special Mission Aircraft, Special Mission Vessels, and
\narmoured vehicles, which would be operated by a standby intervention
\nteam, and linked to the C4i Centre. The centre would also be integrated
\nwith the Maritime Intelligence System and the Nigerian Navy’s Falcon Eye
\nfor real time monitoring and reporting of activities within the
\ncountry’s maritime space.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":76990,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-76989","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-other-news"],"yoast_head":"\n