FG to expand Deep Blue Project across Nigeria’s vulnerable maritime corridors

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By Efe Onodjae

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The Federal Government has disclosed plans to expand the Deep Blue Project to vulnerable coastal and maritime corridors across the country, including the Bakassi axis, as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s maritime security architecture.

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The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, disclosed this on Thursday during the graduation ceremony of 492 Advanced Combat Personnel and Capability Presentation of the Deep Blue Project Task Group held at the 5 Battalion Army Barracks, Elele, Rivers State.

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Oyetola said the expansion would cover critical coastal areas such as the Bakassi Peninsula, Igbokoda and other vulnerable maritime corridors.

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According to him, the initiative is aimed at consolidating gains already recorded under the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, also known as the Deep Blue Project.

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He said, “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.”

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The minister explained that the move would further curb maritime insecurity, enhance operational capacity, improve maintenance systems and ensure maritime security assets remain effective in safeguarding Nigeria’s waters.

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He stated that Nigeria had recorded zero piracy incidents within its territorial waters in the last four years due to the sustained implementation of the Deep Blue Project and collaboration among security agencies. He added that piracy incidents across the Gulf of Guinea had declined by more than 70 per cent within the same period.

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According to Oyetola, before the establishment of the Deep Blue Project in 2021, the Gulf of Guinea was regarded as one of the most dangerous maritime corridors globally, accounting for about 45 per cent of reported global piracy incidents and over 90 per cent of crew kidnappings at sea during peak periods.

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He said the project had transformed Nigeria’s maritime security framework through the deployment of integrated air, land and sea assets supported by advanced surveillance systems and rapid response capabilities.

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The minister linked the achievements of the project to the Federal Government’s broader economic agenda under President Bola Tinubu, noting that maritime security remains critical to economic growth, trade facilitation and investment promotion.

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He urged the graduating personnel to uphold professionalism, patriotism, teamwork and respect for the rule of law in the discharge of their duties.

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Oyetola also commended the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, the Armed Forces, security agencies and training partners for their contributions to the success of the initiative.

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Earlier, Director-General of NIMASA, Dayo Mobereola, described the event as a demonstration of Nigeria’s “operational readiness, institutional resilience and determination to maintain a safe, secure and economically viable maritime environment.”

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Mobereola said the graduating officers completed 33 specialised training programmes covering multiple operational units within the Deep Blue architecture.

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According to him, the graduates comprised 232 Maritime Security Unit operatives, 19 armoured vehicle drivers, 13 armoured vehicle mechanics, eight special mission helicopter pilots, eight helicopter technicians, five special mission aircraft pilots, six aircraft technicians, 49 special mission vessel crew members, 28 interceptor boat mechanics, 62 interceptor boat drivers, 52 Command, Control, Communication, Computer and Intelligence, C4I, operators, and 10 Vertical Take-Off and Landing Unmanned Aerial Systems operators.

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He added that the personnel underwent advanced security and operational training in countries including Syria, Italy, Swaziland, Australia and Nigeria.

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The NIMASA boss also listed operational assets of the Deep Blue Project to include two special mission aircraft fitted with maritime surveillance sensors, two special mission helicopters, two special mission vessels, eight unmanned aerial vehicles, 16 fast interceptor boats and 15 armoured coastal patrol vehicles.

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