The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dayo Mobereola, says the Deep Blue Project has sustained zero piracy incidents in the country’s waters for four consecutive years.
Mobereola said this on Tuesday at the Deep Blue Maritime Operational/C4i Capability Demonstration and Graduation Ceremony held at Navy Town, Ojo, Lagos.
Newsextra24 reports that the C4i system, meaning Command, Control, Computer, Communication and Information, serves as the intelligence hub of the Deep Blue Project, coordinating real-time maritime security surveillance across land, air and sea operations.
Mobereola said the ceremony underscored the nation’s commitment to building a safer, smarter and more secure maritime domain.
According to him, 177 personnel graduated from specialised maritime security training programmes under the Deep Blue Project.
The graduates include 33 Special Mission Vessel Officers, 14 Special Mission Vessel Engineers, 107 Fast Intervention Boat Operators, Technicians and Boarding Team members, as well as 23 Helicopter Team personnel.
He said the officers underwent intensive training in operational efficiency, intelligence coordination and rapid-response operations across the maritime domain and the Gulf of Guinea.
The NIMASA boss said the training covered critical areas such as helicopter operations, medical evacuation and emergency maritime interventions.
Mobereola said the Deep Blue Project had significantly reduced maritime crimes, restored investor confidence and lowered war-risk insurance premiums in Nigerian waters.
He added that the achievement contributed to Nigeria’s election into Category C of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), reflecting the country’s growing global maritime profile.
“I specially appreciate the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, whose dedication to the maritime sector continues to guide the agency’s operations and strategy,” he said.
Mobereola urged the graduating officers to demonstrate professionalism, discipline and commitment in safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime environment.
In his remarks, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abubakar Mustapha, commended NIMASA for sustained investment in maritime security and capacity development.
He described the Deep Blue Project as a strong example of inter-agency collaboration involving the Nigerian Navy, NIMASA and other security agencies.
“The maritime environment continues to face evolving threats which demand professionalism, cooperation, vigilance and continuous capacity development,” he said.
Also speaking, the Head of the Deep Blue Maritime Project in NIMASA, Mrs Gladys Owolabi, said the graduating officers comprised personnel from the Nigerian Navy, Army and Air Force.
She said the trainees received instruction in vessel handling, command integration, maritime communication systems and underwater acoustic operations.
According to her, Nigerian waters are now significantly safer against piracy, sea robbery and other maritime crimes, allowing maritime business activities to thrive within the Gulf of Guinea.
