FG graduates 492 maritime security personnel, says Nigeria records zero piracy in four years

The Federal Government says it has graduated 492 maritime security personnel as part of efforts to strengthen maritime safety and boost the country’s blue economy under the Deep Blue Project.

Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, disclosed this on Thursday at the 2026 graduation ceremony of the Advanced Combat Training Programme held at the Nigerian Army Barracks in Elele, Rivers State.

Oyetola also revealed that Nigeria has recorded zero piracy incidents within its territorial waters for the past four years, attributing the development to sustained investment in maritime security and inter-agency collaboration.

According to him, piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, once responsible for a large share of global attacks, has dropped significantly since the launch of the Deep Blue Project in 2021.

He said the initiative was designed to tackle piracy, sea robbery, illegal fishing, oil theft and other maritime crimes through coordinated land, air and sea operations supported by advanced surveillance systems.

The 492 newly trained personnel were drawn from the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force, including operatives across maritime security units, helicopter pilots, vessel crew, interceptor boat drivers, C4I operators and unmanned aerial systems personnel.

Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Bayo Mobereola, said the personnel underwent specialised training across multiple countries, including Italy, Australia and Nigeria, to enhance operational capacity.

He added that the Deep Blue architecture integrates aircraft, helicopters, vessels, drones and armoured vehicles, coordinated through a central Command, Control, Communication, Computer and Intelligence (C4I) system.

Mobereola said the agency remains committed to strengthening maritime security infrastructure and partnerships to sustain gains already recorded in the sector.

Adeola Wins Ogun APC Governorship Primaries in Landslide Victory

Please follow and like us:

100k