The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening collaboration to strengthen maritime security, particularly under the federal government’s Deep Blue Project.
The Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, made this known during a courtesy visit to the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal S.K. Aneke, at the NAF Headquarters in Abuja on Friday. He stressed the critical role of tactical air surveillance and rapid response capabilities in sustaining Nigeria’s maritime security gains.
Mobereola described the Air Force as a strategic partner in the fight against piracy and sea robbery, noting that Nigeria remains the only African nation to record zero piracy incidents over the past four years.
“We are here to seek the Air Force’s support given the importance of tactical air surveillance to the Deep Blue Project. The platforms deployed under the project have helped Nigeria achieve zero piracy and sea robberies in the Gulf of Guinea, and we need your collaboration to sustain this momentum”, he said.
He emphasised that maritime security is directly linked to international trade, pointing out that vessels are more inclined to call at ports within secure jurisdictions. According to him, enhanced collaboration will not only reduce response time but also reinforce Nigeria’s trade competitiveness along high-risk maritime routes.
“With the traffic we have now, we must demonstrate greater security strength through collaboration. Sustaining what we have achieved under the Deep Blue Project is critical to our trade viability”, he added.
In his response, Aneke assured NIMASA of the Air Force’s readiness to work “step by step and side by side” with the Agency to achieve shared objectives.
He proposed the establishment of a joint strategic framework, integrated command structures, and a standing steering committee to ensure accountability and operational synergy.
He also recommended the creation of a Joint Maritime Domain Awareness Fusion Cell to facilitate real-time intelligence sharing, coordinated surveillance, and faster response to threats across Nigeria’s territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone.
Beyond Deep Blue operations, the Air Chief noted that the NAF could provide additional Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms, tactical air support, rapid airborne interdictions, and search-and-rescue missions.
While appreciating NIMASA for providing foundational training to pilots operating under the Deep Blue Project, Air Marshal Aneke highlighted operational challenges requiring attention. These include bridging communication gaps between NAF and NIMASA operators, advanced maintenance training, timely aircraft fueling to prevent mission delays, and the provision of adequate flying kits.
He pledged the Air Force’s full collaboration, assuring that NIMASA’s requests would be acted upon swiftly, with renewed efforts to accelerate joint operations and further secure Nigeria’s maritime domain.