The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Dr Dayo Mobereola, has stressed the agency’s resolve to strengthen its partnership with other security agencies in the country to tackle insecurity in Nigeria’s territorial waters.

The NIMASA boss stated this on Tuesday at the Deep Blue Maritime Operational Sea Demonstration and graduation ceremony held in Navy Town, Lagos.

“I wish to reiterate the shared vision to ensure the sustainability of the Deep Blue project. It is our commitment to strengthen these partnerships for the overall progress of the Nigerian maritime industry.

“Together, we shall continue to build a maritime sector that is safe, secure, resilient, and capable of driving sustainable economic growth for Nigeria and the entire world,” he noted.

Mobereola revealed that the country had recorded zero incidents of piracy attacks in the last four years.

“It is important to state that for the last four years, Nigeria has maintained an impressive record of zero incidents of piracy attacks, leading to reduced war risk insurance premiums and restoring Nigeria’s global maritime confidence all through the instrumentality of the Deep Blue project.

“Suffice it to state that the successes recorded contributed immensely to Nigeria’s election into Category C of the International Maritime Organisation,” he added.

During the programme, certificates and awards were presented to over 180 members of the Maritime Security Unit.

“The 177 graduates before us today comprise 33 Special Mission Vessel Officers, 14 Special Mission Vessel Engineers, 107 First Intervention Boat Drivers, technicians, and boarding team, and of course, 23 helicopter team members, who are members of the Armed Forces, the police, and the Department of State Security.

“These graduates have undergone rigorous training aimed at improving operational efficiency, intelligence coordination, and rapid response capabilities within the Nigerian maritime domain.

“These trainings include helicopter operations, medical evacuation, vessel landing and clearing, interceptor boats, tactical operations and manoeuvres, communications training, unmanned aerial system capability, and first aid and combat medic skills,” the NIMASA boss explained.

He expressed confidence that the knowledge and skills acquired during the programme would further contribute to sustaining the security gains already recorded on the country’s waters.

Also, the Flag Officer Commanding the Western Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral Abubakar Mustapha, who represented the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, said the ceremony marked not only the completion of a course but also the strengthening of the country’s collective resolve to ensure the safety, security, and prosperity of the Nigerian maritime domain.

“It reflects the strong partnership and shared commitment between the Nigerian Navy and other sister services and NIMASA towards enhancing maritime safety and security within the Nigerian maritime domain and the Gulf of Guinea,” he said.

He added that the Deep Blue project was a classic example of inter-agency collaboration, noting that national security is fundamentally built on such cooperation.

He further stated that the maritime environment continues to face evolving threats that demand professionalism, cooperation, vigilance, and continuous capacity development among maritime security personnel.

“The agency has continued to play a strategic role in supporting initiatives aimed at strengthening maritime governance and operational effectiveness in the Nigerian maritime space,” he said, while commending NIMASA for spearheading the collaboration.

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

According to the Head of Deep Blue Project, Mrs Gladys Owolabi, the country’s waters are significantly safer and more secure against piracy, robbery, and other maritime crimes, “so that business can thrive and positively impact the Nigerian economy and the Gulf of Guinea by extension.

“More so, the sustainability agenda is the hallmark of the project’s consistency, progress, and continual existence. It includes extensive training, maintenance, and effective coordination of various assets and platforms of the Deep Blue Project,” she maintained.

A sea rescue mission was also demonstrated during the event. The Deep Blue project was officially launched on June 10, 2021, following rising piracy incidents in Nigeria’s waters, which led vessels coming to the country to pay war risk premiums.