The Federal Government has announced plans to expand the Deep Blue Project to vulnerable coastal and maritime corridors across the country, including the Bakassi axis, as part of efforts to further strengthen maritime security and sustain gains against piracy in Nigerian waters.

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, disclosed this yesterday during the graduation ceremony of 492 Advanced Combat Personnel and Capability Presentation of the Deep Blue Project Task Group at the 5th Battalion Army Barracks, Elele, Rivers State.

Oyetola said the proposed expansion would cover strategic coastal locations such as Bakassi Peninsula, Igbokoda and other vulnerable maritime corridors across the country under the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, popularly known as the Deep Blue Project.

According to the minister, the initiative is aimed at consolidating the successes already recorded under the project and enhancing Nigeria’s maritime security architecture.

“Building on the significant strides already made, the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy is currently evaluating strategic frameworks for the expansion of the Deep Blue Project to further strengthen our maritime security architecture in critical coastal areas such as Igbokoda, Bakassi, and other vulnerable maritime corridors,” he said.

He noted that the expansion would help curb maritime crimes, improve operational efficiency, strengthen maintenance systems and ensure maritime security assets remain fully functional in safeguarding the nation’s territorial waters.

The minister stated that Nigeria had recorded zero piracy incidents within its territorial waters over the last four years due to sustained implementation of the Deep Blue Project and collaboration among security agencies.

He added that piracy incidents across the Gulf of Guinea had declined by over 70 per cent within the same period.

According to him, before the establishment of the Deep Blue Project in 2021, the Gulf of Guinea accounted for nearly 45 per cent of global piracy incidents and over 90 per cent of crew kidnappings at sea during peak periods, making it one of the world’s most dangerous maritime routes.

Oyetola said the Deep Blue Project had transformed Nigeria’s maritime security framework through the deployment of integrated air, land and sea assets backed by advanced surveillance technology and rapid response systems.

He linked the success of the initiative to the Federal Government’s economic agenda under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stressing that maritime security remains critical to trade facilitation, investment promotion and economic growth.

The minister urged the graduating personnel to demonstrate professionalism, patriotism, teamwork and respect for the rule of law in the discharge of their duties.

He also commended the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, the Armed Forces, security agencies and training partners for their contributions to the success of the project.

Earlier, Director-General of NIMASA, Dayo Mobereola, described the ceremony as a reflection of Nigeria’s operational readiness and determination to maintain a safe and economically viable maritime environment.

Mobereola said the graduating officers completed 33 specialised training programmes across various operational units within the Deep Blue architecture.

He disclosed that the graduates included 232 Maritime Security Unit operatives, 19 armoured vehicle drivers, 13 armoured vehicle mechanics, eight special mission helicopter pilots, eight helicopter technicians, five special mission aircraft pilots, six aircraft technicians, 49 special mission vessel crew members, 28 interceptor boat mechanics, 62 interceptor boat drivers, 52 Command, Control, Communication, Computer and Intelligence operators, and 10 Vertical Take-Off and Landing Unmanned Aerial Systems operators.

According to him, the personnel underwent advanced operational and security training in countries including Syria, Italy, Swaziland, Australia and Nigeria to expose them to global best practices in maritime security operations.

He said the operational assets under the Deep Blue Project include two special mission aircraft fitted with maritime surveillance sensors, two special mission helicopters, two special mission vessels for deep-sea operations, eight unmanned aerial vehicles, 16 fast interceptor boats and 15 armoured coastal patrol vehicles.

Highlights of the ceremony included the commissioning of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Workshop and Training Centre, inspection of Deep Blue Project assets, tactical demonstrations and presentation of certificates to the graduating personnel. (The Nation News)