MARITIME SECURITY: Amaechi berths Integrated Equipment, explains why Secure Anchorage was stopped
– By majorwavesen

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… As Dakuku says 80% of Deep Blue Assets Ready by June***

Almost all the communication gadgets for tackling piracy on Nigerian waters are now in the country as well as the Personal Protective Gear (PPG), the Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi indicated on Monday.

The Minister stated this at a news briefing in Eko Hotel Lagos, stressing that this is government’s effort to comprehensively tackle insecurity on Nigeria’s territorial waters and exclusive economic zone.

He also said that government is set to deploy its integrated maritime security infrastructure, ahead of the launch of the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, also called the Deep Blue Project.

The Minister, who addressed the press conference alongside all the heads of agencies under the ministry, also explained the government’s decision to end the secure anchorage project, a private security initiative run outside the country’s port system. He insisted that all ships coming into the country must anchor at the national ports under the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

The Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), while expatiating on the Deep Blue Project, said 80 per cent of the assets required for the takeoff of the total spectrum maritime security architecture would be deployed by June.

PIX 2

L-R: Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside; Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi; Director, Maritime Safety, Federal Ministry of Transport, FMOT, Mr Paul Adalikwu; and the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman during a Press Conference on the progress of the DEEP BLUE PROJECT held in Lagos, Monday, February 3, 2020.

 

Amaechi, who briefed the media after a high level security meeting with maritime stakeholders, restated the President Muhammadu Buhari government’s determination to tackle maritime insecurity head-on. He assured that the Deep Blue Project, when fully operational, would drastically reduce piracy and other crimes within Nigeria’s maritime domain and the Gulf of Guinea.

The Minister stated, “Recall that we secured an approval from the Federal Executive Council to introduce a maritime security architecture, which is coming to fruition. We engaged the Homeland Security International (HLSI), who are only to provide training and equipment, while the Nigerian Navy would lead the Police, Nigerian Army and Department of State Services, among others that would run the equipment.”

He stated that the security of the maritime sector needs a more holistic approach, hence the need to involve other arms of the country’s security services to support the Nigerian Navy working with NIMASA.

Giving a breakdown of the assets being installed under the Deep Blue Project, Dakuku revealed that a good number of the assets had arrived the country as well as the Personal Protective Gear (PPG). The C4i centre is fully operational in Kirikiri, the NIMASA Research Centre. Those are the assets we have on ground.

“However, between now and June this year, over 80 per cent of the assets would be in the country and they would be manned by Nigerian military.”

photo 2020 02 04 11 43 23

DAKUKU PETERSIDE, NIMASA DG

 

Dakuku stated that the training aspect of the project had since commenced in phases. He said the first set of training for C4i operators and intelligence officers had been concluded. Basic infantry training for soldiers who would fight on land around the littoral areas has also been concluded and the soldiers awaiting deployment, according to him.

“These trainings would continue over time as we try to integrate the intelligence officers with the C4i and those operating the special mission vessels and aircraft,” Dakuku said.

 

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