Naval officers from 20 countries have visited the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Command, Control, Computer Communication, and Intelligence (C4i) Centre in Lagos for a knowledge-sharing session aimed at enhancing global maritime security cooperation.
The team, comprising 40 participants currently on the Siren Course aboard the French Navy’s amphibious assault ship, LHD Tonnerre, made a port call in Lagos as part of their ongoing international engagement tour.
Led by the Defence Attaché at the French Embassy in Nigeria, Colonel Stéphane Oseo, the officers were received by officials of NIMASA who provided insights into Nigeria’s maritime security architecture and the workings of the Deep Blue Project, the country’s integrated maritime surveillance and response system.
According to Colonel Oseo, the visit was designed to deepen understanding of how maritime administrations operate within the Yaoundé Architecture for Maritime Safety and Security, a regional framework that governs maritime safety cooperation among West and Central African nations. He described the partnership between the Nigerian Navy and NIMASA as a model of inter-agency collaboration that has significantly contributed to reducing piracy and other maritime crimes in the Gulf of Guinea.
“The level of coordination between NIMASA and the Nigerian Navy stands out as an example of effective maritime governance. It’s a partnership worth studying and replicating in other regions,” Oseo stated.
During the two-day visit, the officers were briefed by NIMASA’s Deep Blue Project team on the Agency’s technological tools for maritime domain awareness, intelligence gathering, and response coordination. They also toured the Regional Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (RMRCC), where they were educated on Nigeria’s operational procedures for search and rescue missions and emergency maritime response.
Speaking during the engagement, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, represented by the Director of Marine Environment Management, Mr. Heaky Dimowo, reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to regional and international collaboration aimed at sustaining safety and security in the Gulf of Guinea.
“Maritime safety and security are global responsibilities. NIMASA will continue to strengthen partnerships with regional and international stakeholders to ensure the Gulf of Guinea remains safe for navigation and maritime trade,” Dimowo said.
He noted that the visit underscores Nigeria’s growing reputation as a leader in maritime security coordination in West and Central Africa, following years of strategic investments in infrastructure, capacity building, and inter-agency collaboration under the Deep Blue Project.
The Deep Blue Project, initiated by NIMASA in collaboration with the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Air Force, and other security agencies, is Nigeria’s flagship maritime security framework, integrating land, air, and sea assets for 24-hour surveillance of the nation’s maritime domain.
