Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola (left) presenting certificate to a graduating security personnel at the Graduation Ceremony of the Advanced Combat Personnel and Capability Presentation of the Deep Blue Project Task Group held at the 5th Battalion Army Barracks in Elele, Rivers State, on Thursday, as the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola (right) watches.
By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
The Federal Government has announced plans to expand the Deep Blue Project to vulnerable coastal and maritime corridors across Nigeria, including the Bakassi axis, as part of efforts to strengthen maritime security and protect the nation’s waterways.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, disclosed this on Thursday during the 2026 graduation ceremony of 492 Advanced Combat Personnel and Capability Presentation of the Deep Blue Project Task Group held at the 5th Battalion Army Barracks in Elele, Rivers State.
According to the minister, the proposed expansion will cover strategic coastal areas such as Bakassi Peninsula, Igbokoda, and other vulnerable maritime routes to consolidate gains recorded under the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, widely known as the Deep Blue Project.
“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,” Oyetola said.
He noted that the expansion is expected to improve operational capabilities, strengthen maintenance systems, and enhance the effectiveness of maritime security assets in tackling insecurity along Nigeria’s waterways.
The minister stated that Nigeria had recorded zero piracy incidents within its territorial waters over the past four years, attributing the achievement 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 more than 70 per cent during the same period.
Oyetola recalled that before the launch of the Deep Blue Project in 2021, the Gulf of Guinea accounted for nearly 45 per cent of reported global piracy incidents and over 90 per cent of crew kidnappings at sea during peak periods.
He said the initiative had transformed Nigeria’s maritime security framework through integrated deployment of air, land, and sea assets supported by advanced surveillance technologies and rapid response systems.
The minister linked the project’s achievements to the Federal Government’s broader economic agenda under Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stressing that maritime security is critical for trade, investment, and national economic growth.
He urged graduating personnel to uphold professionalism, patriotism, teamwork, and respect for the rule of law while carrying out their duties.
Earlier, the Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency>, Dayo Mobereola, described the graduation as evidence of Nigeria’s growing operational readiness and determination to sustain a secure maritime environment.
Mobereola disclosed that the 492 graduates completed 33 specialised training programmes across various operational units of the Deep Blue Project. The personnel include maritime security operatives, pilots, vessel crew members, interceptor boat drivers, mechanics, intelligence operators, and unmanned aerial systems operators.
According to him, the officers received advanced training in countries including Syria, Italy, Eswatini, Australia, and Nigeria, exposing them to international best practices in maritime security operations.
He also highlighted the operational assets supporting the Deep Blue Project, including special mission aircraft, helicopters, deep-sea vessels, unmanned aerial vehicles, interceptor boats, and armoured patrol vehicles.
The NIMASA boss commended the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy for providing strategic leadership in advancing maritime security reforms.
The ceremony featured the commissioning of a new Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Workshop and Training Centre, inspection of Deep Blue assets, tactical demonstrations, and presentation of certificates to graduating personnel.
The event was attended by representatives of the Ministers of Defence and State for Defence, as well as service chiefs and other senior government officials.
