The Federal Government has unveiled plans to extend the Deep Blue Project to Bakassi, Igbokoda and other vulnerable coastal corridors as part of renewed efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s maritime security architecture.
L:R: Representative of Hon Minister of Defence Special Adviser on Security to the Minister for Defence in Nigeria; Musa Likita fsi, County Director, HLSi, Mr Tal Spektor, His Excellency Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Adegboyega Oyetola CON, Director Maritime Safety and security Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy; Musa Makoji, Director General Nigerian Maritime Administration and safety Agency; Dr Dayo Mobereola during a presentation of award certificate amongst Deep Blue Operational Maritime/C4i Capability Demonstration and Graduation Ceremony in Elele, Rivers State.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, disclosed this during the 2026 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 expansion initiative was designed to consolidate the gains already achieved under the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, popularly known as the Deep Blue Project.
He explained that the next phase of the project would focus on strategic coastal locations considered vulnerable to maritime crimes and security threats.
According to the minister, the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy is currently evaluating operational frameworks that will support the deployment of additional security infrastructure across critical maritime corridors.
He noted that the planned expansion would significantly improve operational capacity, strengthen maintenance systems and ensure that maritime security assets remain fully functional for rapid response operations.
Oyetola said Nigeria had maintained zero piracy incidents within its territorial waters in the last four years due to the sustained implementation of the Deep Blue Project and robust inter agency collaboration.
He added that piracy attacks across the Gulf of Guinea had also dropped by more than 70 per cent within the same period, marking a major turnaround in regional maritime security.
The minister recalled that before the launch of the 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.
He said the Deep Blue Project had transformed Nigeria’s maritime security landscape through the deployment of integrated air, land and sea assets backed by sophisticated surveillance technology and rapid intervention systems.
Oyetola linked the improved security environment to the economic reform agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stressing that maritime security remained critical to trade growth, investment inflow and national economic development.
The minister urged the graduating personnel to uphold professionalism, discipline, patriotism and respect for the rule of law in the discharge of their responsibilities.
He also commended the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, the Armed Forces, security agencies and training partners for sustaining the momentum of maritime security reforms.
Earlier, Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Dayo Mobereola, described the graduation ceremony as a clear demonstration of Nigeria’s operational readiness and institutional resilience.
Mobereola said the graduating personnel successfully completed 33 specialised training programmes covering several operational units under the Deep Blue security architecture.
According to him, the graduates included Maritime Security Unit operatives, armoured vehicle drivers and mechanics, helicopter pilots and technicians, aircraft pilots, vessel crew members, interceptor boat mechanics and C4I operators.
He disclosed that the officers underwent advanced operational training in countries including Syria, Italy, Swaziland, Australia and Nigeria, where they were exposed to global maritime security best practices.
The NIMASA boss listed the operational assets under the Deep Blue Project to include special mission aircraft, surveillance helicopters, deep sea vessels, unmanned aerial vehicles, interceptor boats and armoured coastal patrol vehicles.
Mobereola expressed appreciation to Oyetola for providing strategic leadership and unwavering support for maritime security reforms and operational expansion.
The ceremony featured the commissioning of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Workshop and Training Centre, inspection of operational assets, tactical combat demonstrations and presentation of certificates to the 492 graduating personnel.