Expansion of the deep blue project seeks to curtail maritime insecurity, enhance operational capacity, improve maintenance systems and ensure maritime security assets remain fully functional and effective in safeguarding Nigeria’s waters.
By Blue Africa News
Nigeria has announced plans to expand the deep blue project (DBP) to vulnerable coastal and maritime corridors across the West African nation.
The expansion will cover several key areas, including the sensitive Bakassi axis, as part of efforts to further strengthen Nigeria’s maritime security architecture, the information being disclosed by Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, the minister of marine and blue economy during the recent graduation ceremony of 492 advanced combat personnel and capability presentation of the deep blue project task group.
According to Dr. Oyetola, the planned expansion will target critical coastal areas such as Bakassi Peninsula, Igbokoda and other vulnerable maritime corridors across the country, with a view of consolidating the gains already recorded under the DBP, otherwise known as the integrated national security and waterways protection infrastructure.
“Building on the significant strides already made, the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy is currently evaluating strategic frameworks for the expansion of the Deep Blue Project to further strengthen our maritime security architecture in critical coastal areas such as Igbokoda, Bakassi, and other vulnerable maritime corridors,” said the minister.
The move, the minister explained, would curtail maritime insecurity, enhance operational capacity, improve maintenance systems and ensure maritime security assets remain fully functional and effective in safeguarding Nigeria’s waters.
He said Nigeria had recorded zero piracy incidents within its territorial waters over the past four years, due to the sustained implementation of the deep blue project and collaboration among security agencies.
“Piracy incidents across the Gulf of Guinea had declined by more than 70% within the same period,” he said, adding that prior to the establishment of the DBP in 2021, the Gulf of Guinea had become one of the most dangerous maritime corridors globally, “accounting for nearly 45% of reported global piracy incidents and over 90% of crew kidnappings at sea during peak periods.”
The minister used the opportunity to commended the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigeria’s armed forces, security agencies and training partners for their contributions to the success of the initiative.
Dr. Dayo Mobereola, NIMASA’s Director-General described the initiative as a major demonstration of the country’s operational readiness, institutional resilience, and determination to maintain a safe, secure, and economically viable maritime environment.
He said the operational assets of the DBP include two special mission aircraft fitted with maritime surveillance sensors, two special mission helicopters for over-sea operations, two special mission vessels for deep-sea operations, eight unmanned aerial vehicles for real-time intelligence gathering, 16 fast interceptor boats, and 15 armoured coastal patrol vehicles.
Launched in June 2021 by Nigeria’s former president Muhammadu Buhari, Deep Blue Project’s main aim is to secure Nigerian waters up to the Gulf of Guinea. The project seeks to tackle maritime security on land, sea and air.
Initiated by the Federal Ministry of Transportation and Federal Ministry of Defence, the project is being implemented by NIMASA as the first integrated maritime security strategy in West and Central Africa.
Experts say that since the inception of the deep blue project, there has been a drop in the rate of maritime criminality in Nigeria.
“The integrative nature of the DBP and available assets makes it stand out as a laudable maritime security intervention project within the Gulf of Guinea by the Nigerian government, in as much as there exist some aspects of the project that needs standardization and improvement,” said Peter Udochukwu Ohagwa, in his World Maritime University (WMU) 2022 dissertation titled “Analysis of Nigeria’s Deep Blue Project : a new paradigm for maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea Peter Udochukwu Ohagwa.”
He recommended that Nigeria’s Deep Blue project serves as a model for the Gulf of Guinea coastal states towards a robust maritime security for the entire region.
Oliver Ochieng, Blue Africa News