Joyce Mmereole Okoli
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is seeking stronger operational collaboration with the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to reinforce tactical air surveillance and sustain the successes recorded under the Deep Blue Project.
Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, made the call during a courtesy visit to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal S.K. Aneke, at the NAF Headquarters in Abuja on Friday. He described the Air Force as a strategic partner in safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime domain and maintaining the country’s four-year record of zero piracy incidents.
“We are here to seek the Air Force’s support given the importance of tactical air surveillance to the Deep Blue Project. Nigeria is the only African country with a record of zero piracy within the last four years. The Deep Blue Project platforms have played a critical role in achieving this, and we need your collaboration to sustain the momentum,” Mobereola said.
He stressed that security remains central to international trade competitiveness, noting that shipping companies prefer secure maritime routes. With increasing vessel traffic through Nigerian waters, Mobereola said enhanced air–sea coordination is vital to strengthening national trade viability.
The NIMASA DG expressed optimism that deeper cooperation with the Air Force would help reduce response time during maritime security operations.
Responding, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Aneke, reaffirmed the readiness of the Air Force to work closely with NIMASA to achieve shared security objectives.
He proposed measures to elevate the partnership, including a joint strategic framework, integrated command structures, and a standing steering committee to ensure accountability.
Aneke also advocated the creation of a joint maritime domain awareness fusion cell to facilitate real-time intelligence sharing, synchronized surveillance, and swift response to threats across Nigeria’s territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone.
Beyond the Deep Blue Project, the Air Force Chief noted that NAF can also deploy its own intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms, provide tactical air support, and offer rapid airborne response for interdiction operations and search-and-rescue missions.
Aneke commended NIMASA for providing foundational training for aircraft pilots under the Deep Blue Project, while highlighting areas requiring additional attention, such as improved communication channels, advanced maintenance training, guaranteed fueling for mission-ready aircraft, and provision of essential flying kits.
He assured that the Air Force is fully committed to strengthening the partnership, promising that things will begin to move at thrice its speed going forward.