By Ogochukwu Isioma
The Nigerian Navy on Wednesday said assets acquired by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA under the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, otherwise known as the Deep Blue project have been deployed across the South West, Central and Eastern Zonal operations to enhance patrol of the Nigerian maritime domain.
In a statement NIMASA’s assistant spokesperson, Osagie Edward, he said Acting Fleet Commander, Western Naval Command and Commander Deep Blue Project, Commodore Victor Choji made the declaration, during a working visit by the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Mohammed Abdullahi to the Management of NIMASA. He added that the Nigerian Navy under the leadership of the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla is fully committed to the success of the Deep Blue Project.
“The assets have already been well deployed. As we speak 5 armored vehicles are deployed in Port Harcourt and 3 in Bonny,” the Acting Fleet Commander, Western Naval Command and Commander Deep Blue Project, Commodore Victor Choji, was quoted as saying during the interactive session.
Speaking further, he said the project team deployed 10 more vehicles there, in addition to a drone unit in Bonny and some personnel. He also hinted that during the last general elections in the country, the mere presence of deep blue assets alone in those locations provided the needed inference that was required.
Choji also said that in the Central Zone Command, the Navy has deployed 3 units of special mission elements in brass and two of the interceptor boats with the special intervention force elements in central command, adding, “In Lagos, just last week, we got a directive that there is a requirement and we are about to deploy 2 interceptor boats to support the operations that are ongoing in Lagos Inland waters. I can state categorically that we have the full backing of the Nigerian Navy for the success of the Deep Blue Project”.
On his part, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh, restated the Agency’s commitment to a robust relationship with the Nigerian Navy towards the economic development of the country.
“I want to believe that the Agency and the Nigerian Navy have a lot in common to ensure safety and security in the nation’s waters. While the Nigerian Navy takes care of the kinetic operations, NIMASA concentrates on non-kinetic operations, and the two will have to go hand in hand if we must succeed. If you look at the armed forces act, the Nigerian Navy has a role to play in ensuring the implementation and enforcement of the NIMASA and Customs & Excise act”, he said.
Jamoh expressed the desire of NIMASA to earn full value for funds invested and still investing in the operations of the Deep Blue Project. He also noted that the Agency is in constant liaison with the National Assembly to ensure an update of the nation’s maritime laws with particular reference to the Merchant Shipping Act to guarantee adequate punitive measures are in the law to deter criminalities on Nigerian waters.
While commending the Nigerian Navy for their efforts in tracking erring vessels, which switched off their Automatic Identification System, AIS in Nigerian waters, Dr Jamoh called for improved synergy amongst all organs of Government in the maritime sector. Particularly, the Nigerian Navy and the marine arm of the Nigerian Police to quickly tackle head on; pockets of recent criminalities in the Lagos anchorage and inland waters.
Earlier in his remarks, the FOC who reiterated that the Agency is his first point of call since he assumed duty as the FOC Western Naval Command, which underscores the importance the Nigerian Navy pays to her relationship with NIMASA.
“I am here in recognition of the support and cooperation the Navy enjoys with the Agency and we still have a long way to go in order to actualize the mandate of safeguarding the Nigerian maritime sector”, the FOC said.
He also used the opportunity to pledge the continuous support of the Command to the Agency, while they look forward to more cooperation in the coming years, for the overall good of the nation.
