The Federal Government has intensified efforts to secure Nigeria’s maritime domain with plans to extend the Deep Blue Project to high-risk coastal corridors, including the strategically sensitive Bakassi Peninsula.
Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, announced the move on Thursday at the 2026 Graduation Ceremony of 492 Advanced Combat Personnel under the Deep Blue Project, held at the 5th Battalion Army Barracks in Elele, Rivers State.
The expansion, he said, will cover vulnerable coastal locations such as Igbokoda and other critical maritime routes, reinforcing the government’s resolve to sustain and scale recent gains in maritime security.
According to the Minister, the initiative is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure popularly known as the Deep Blue Project which has significantly improved safety across Nigeria’s waters.
“Having recorded measurable success, we are now advancing plans to extend the Deep Blue Project to other high-risk maritime corridors, including Bakassi and Igbokoda, to further fortify our security architecture”, Oyetola stated.
He explained that the next phase of the project will enhance surveillance, improve asset maintenance, boost operational efficiency, and ensure rapid response capabilities across Nigeria’s coastal environment.
Oyetola highlighted that Nigeria has maintained zero piracy incidents within its territorial waters for four consecutive years, attributing the milestone to sustained investment in maritime security and robust inter-agency collaboration.
He added that piracy incidents in the Gulf of Guinea have dropped by over 70 per cent within the same period.
He recalled that before the introduction of the Deep Blue Project in 2021, the Gulf of Guinea was regarded as one of the most dangerous maritime zones globally, accounting for nearly half of reported piracy cases and the overwhelming majority of crew kidnappings at sea.
The Minister noted that the deployment of integrated air, land, and sea assets—supported by cutting-edge surveillance systems—has repositioned Nigeria as a leader in regional maritime security.
Linking security to economic growth, Oyetola stressed that a safe maritime environment remains essential for trade facilitation, investor confidence, and national development, in line with the economic agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He charged the graduating personnel to uphold discipline, professionalism, and respect for the rule of law, emphasizing their critical role in sustaining the country’s maritime security gains.
In his remarks, the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, described the graduation as a clear demonstration of Nigeria’s operational preparedness and institutional strength.
Mobereola disclosed that the 492 personnel completed 33 specialised training programmes across key operational units within the Deep Blue framework, covering maritime security, aviation operations, intelligence systems, and vessel handling.
The trainees, he added, were exposed to international best practices through advanced training in countries such as Syria, Italy, Swaziland, Australia, and Nigeria.
He outlined the project’s operational assets to include special mission aircraft and helicopters, surveillance drones, interceptor boats, armoured patrol vehicles, and sophisticated command-and-control systems designed for real-time intelligence and rapid deployment.
The event featured the commissioning of a Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Workshop and Training Centre, inspection of Deep Blue assets, tactical demonstrations, and the presentation of certificates to the newly trained personnel.
Dignitaries at the ceremony included representatives of the Minister of Defence, the Minister of State for Defence, and senior military officials, who commended the initiative and reaffirmed their support for sustained inter-agency collaboration in securing Nigeria’s maritime domain.