The Nigerian Navy says that the assets purchased by NIMASA under the Integrated Infrastructure for Homeland Security and Protection of Waterways, also known as the Deep Blue project, have been fully deployed.
This was stated in a statement by acting fleet commander, Western Naval Command and Project Deep Blue commander Victor Choji in Lagos on Friday.
He said the deployment was in the south-west, central and eastern area operations to enhance patrol of Nigeria’s maritime domain.
Mr. Choji made the remarks during a working visit by Western Naval Command Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Mohammed Abdullahi, to the Directorate of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Security Agency (NIMASA).
He added that the Nigerian Navy, under the leadership of Chief of Naval Staff Emmanuel Ogalla, was fully committed to the success of the Deep Blue Project.
“The assets have already been well deployed; There are currently five armored vehicles deployed in Port Harcourt and three in Bonny.
“The project team deployed 10 more vehicles there, plus a drone unit in Bonny and some personnel,” the commander added.
According to him, the mere presence of deep blue assets in those locations during the last general election provided the necessary inference.
Choji also said that in the Central Zone Command, the Navy had deployed three special mission element units to Brass and two of the interceptor ships, and a special intervention force in the central command.
“In Lagos last week we received a directive that there is a requirement and we are about to deploy two interceptor boats to support operations taking place in the inland waters of Lagos.
“I can categorically state that we have the full support of the Nigerian Navy for the success of the Deep Blue Project,” Choji said.
For his part, NIMASA CEO Bashir Jamoh said that the assets acquired by the agency under the Deep Blue project were being managed by a project team headed by a Nigerian Navy Commodore.
He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to a strong relationship with the Nigerian Navy for the economic development of the country.
“I think the agency and the Nigerian Navy have a lot in common in ensuring safety in the country’s waters.
“While the Nigerian Navy handles kinetic operations, NIMASA concentrates on non-kinetic operations, and the two will need to go hand in hand if we are to be successful.
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“If we look at the Armed Forces Act, the Nigerian Navy has a role to play in ensuring implementation and compliance with NIMASA and the Customs and Excise Acts,” he said.
Jamoh expressed NIMASA’s desire to get the full value of the funds invested and to invest more in the operations of the Deep Blue Project.
He said the agency was in constant liaison with the National Assembly to update the country’s maritime laws with special reference to the Merchant Marine Law.
This, he said, was to ensure adequate punitive measures to deter criminality in Nigerian waters.
While he praised the Nigerian Navy for its efforts to track down erroneous vessels that switched off its automatic identification system, AIS, Jamoh called for better synergy between all governing bodies in the maritime sector.
“In particular, the Nigerian Navy and the maritime arm of the Nigerian Police must swiftly address recent outbreaks of crime at the Lagos anchorage and in inland waters,” it said.
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