NIMASA’S Renewed Push Against Maritime Crimes – THISDAYLIVE

With four consecutive years without piracy incidents, the collaboration between the Nigerian Navy and NIMASA under the Deep Blue Project is restoring global confidence and positioning Nigeria as a leading maritime force in Africa, writes Sunday Ehigiator

By all indications, Nigeria’s maritime sector is undergoing one of its most significant transformations in decades, driven by stronger security architecture, strategic inter-agency collaboration, and renewed investments in capacity development under the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

That momentum was once again on display in Lagos, this week, during the C4i Capability Demonstration and Graduation Ceremony, where 177 maritime security personnel completed specialised operational training under the Federal Government’s Deep Blue Project — an ambitious maritime security initiative that has continued to redefine Nigeria’s standing in the Gulf of Guinea.

The event, attended by top military officials, maritime stakeholders, and security agencies, underscored the growing synergy between the Nigerian Navy and NIMASA in sustaining the gains already recorded in Nigeria’s territorial waters.

Representing the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Mustapha Bala Hassan, described the graduation ceremony as a reflection of Nigeria’s collective determination to secure its maritime domain and protect critical economic assets.

According to him, the Deep Blue Project has become a practical demonstration of how inter-agency collaboration can effectively tackle maritime crimes and enhance operational efficiency across the nation’s waterways.

“This ceremony marks not only the completion of a course, but the strengthening of our collective resolve to ensure safety, security and prosperity within Nigeria’s maritime domain and the Gulf of Guinea,” he said.

For years, the Gulf of Guinea was regarded as one of the world’s most dangerous maritime routes due to piracy, sea robbery, kidnapping, and attacks on merchant vessels. Nigeria, as the region’s largest maritime hub, bore the brunt of these security concerns, with implications for trade, foreign investment, insurance premiums, and economic growth.

Today, however, the narrative is gradually changing. One of the most notable achievements highlighted during the ceremony was Nigeria’s record of four consecutive years without a piracy incident within its waters — a development maritime experts say was almost unthinkable less than a decade ago.

The Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, attributed the achievement largely to the operational successes of the Deep Blue Project, which combines air, land, and sea assets with intelligence gathering and rapid response systems.

“For four consecutive years, Nigeria has maintained zero piracy incidents in its waters. This achievement has not only restored global confidence in our maritime domain, but also significantly contributed to Nigeria’s election into Category C of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO),” Mobereola stated.

Industry stakeholders believe the improved security environment is beginning to yield direct economic benefits for Nigeria.

Reduced piracy threats have helped lower war-risk insurance premiums previously imposed on vessels operating within Nigerian waters. This has made Nigeria’s ports and shipping corridors more attractive to international shipping companies and investors.

The gains are also coming at a crucial time when the federal government is aggressively pushing its blue economy agenda as a new frontier for national economic growth.

Under the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, the government has continued to emphasise maritime security as a critical pillar for unlocking opportunities in shipping, fisheries, coastal tourism, offshore energy, and marine transportation.

The latest graduation exercise forms part of broader efforts to deepen operational readiness and strengthen indigenous maritime capabilities.

Mobereola disclosed that the 177 graduands included 33 Special Mission Vessel Officers, 14 Special Mission Vessel Engineers, 107 Fast Intervention Boat Operators, Technicians and Boarding Team members, alongside 23 Helicopter Team personnel. According to him, the participants underwent intensive training in helicopter operations, medical evacuation, tactical vessel boarding, interceptor boat manoeuvres, communications systems, unmanned aerial systems, and combat medical support.

“These specialised trainings are designed to improve operational efficiency, intelligence coordination, and rapid response capabilities within Nigeria’s maritime domain and the Gulf of Guinea,” he explained.

The operational capability demonstration during the ceremony further showcased the growing sophistication of Nigeria’s maritime security framework.

Using Special Mission Vessels, helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, and fast interceptor boats, personnel executed a coordinated rescue operation involving a merchant vessel reportedly under attack.

Observers at the event described the exercise as evidence of the increasing professionalism and preparedness of Nigerian maritime security agencies.

Rear Admiral Hassan commended the participants for their discipline and operational efficiency, stressing that the knowledge acquired would improve coordination among maritime stakeholders and help deny criminal elements freedom of action within Nigerian waters.

“The performance displayed by the participants during the capability demonstration was surgically executed, reflecting the quality of training and operational preparedness required to secure our maritime domain,” he noted.

Beyond combating piracy, analysts say the Deep Blue Project has also strengthened Nigeria’s maritime surveillance capabilities, enhanced intelligence sharing, and improved response time during emergencies at sea.

The project, launched under the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, remains one of the most comprehensive maritime security initiatives on the African continent.

It integrates advanced surveillance technology with specialised assets, including special mission aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, armoured vehicles, interceptor boats, and command-and-control systems.

Maritime stakeholders have repeatedly argued that improved maritime security is essential for Nigeria’s economic diversification ambitions, particularly at a time when the country seeks to increase non-oil revenue generation.

Nigeria controls one of Africa’s busiest shipping corridors and handles significant volumes of cargo destined for West and Central Africa. Securing those waters, experts say, directly impacts trade facilitation, port efficiency, and investor confidence.

Recent reforms by NIMASA have also complemented the security improvements.

Over the past year, the agency has intensified efforts toward maritime digitalisation, indigenous shipping development, seafarer training, and improved regulatory oversight.

NIMASA has also expanded collaborations with international maritime organisations and development partners aimed at improving safety standards and strengthening Nigeria’s compliance with global maritime conventions.

Industry observers note that Nigeria’s re-election into Category C of the IMO Council further reinforces growing international recognition of the country’s maritime reforms and leadership role within Africa’s maritime sector.

The IMO Council remains one of the most influential decision-making bodies in global shipping regulation, and Nigeria’s continued presence provides the country with greater visibility and influence in shaping international maritime policies.

At the ceremony, Mobereola expressed appreciation to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for supporting reforms and investments within the sector.

He also acknowledged the contributions of the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Police Force, Homeland Security International (HSI), and other agencies whose collaboration has sustained the successes recorded under the Deep Blue Project.

Security experts believe such partnerships will become increasingly important as maritime threats evolve across the Gulf of Guinea and international shipping routes.

For the Nigerian Navy, the collaboration with NIMASA reflects a broader shift towards integrated maritime governance, where multiple agencies work together rather than in isolation.

Vice Admiral Abbas reiterated that modern security challenges demand sustained cooperation, professionalism, and continuous capacity building among all maritime stakeholders.

“The Nigerian Navy, in collaboration with NIMASA and other stakeholders, shall continue to strengthen synergy in order to deny criminal elements freedom of action within our maritime space,” he assured.

For the graduating personnel, the ceremony represented not just the completion of a training programme, but the beginning of a larger national responsibility.

They now form part of a growing network of highly trained maritime operatives tasked with protecting Nigeria’s waters, supporting maritime trade, and sustaining the confidence that international shipping stakeholders are gradually regaining in the country.

As Nigeria intensifies efforts to unlock the economic potential of its blue economy, stakeholders insist that sustained investments in maritime security, technology, manpower development, and institutional collaboration will remain central to achieving long-term growth.