Forecloses discussions on Secure Anchorage Area, SAA, “It is illegal and anyone making payment could be prosecuted”-Amaechi

Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, Transport Minister

Even as global insecurity rages, government across the world are not relenting in their efforts to secure their territories and keep their citizens safe in order to boost economic activities and encourage regional/intercontinental trade.

In Nigeria, the Federal Government says it is set to deploy its integrated maritime security infrastructure. The Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, while speaking with news men in Lagos preparatory to the launch of the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure under the Deep Blue Project, assured that the government of Nigeria is taking concrete steps to tackle issues of insecurity on Nigerian waters.

Part of such efforts is the dismantling of the Secure Anchorage Area, SAA, a contract which has being a subject of debates among operators in Nigeria’s maritime industry. The minister insisted that all ships coming into the country must anchor at the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA.

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 the briefing.

The Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside  disclosed that 80 % of the assets required for the takeoff of the total maritime security architecture would be deployed by June 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.

To quote him “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 have arrived the country, including six interceptor boats and a special mission vessel. He added that  a second one will come in before the end of February.

The Director-General also disclosed that the first special mission aircraft will be in the country before the end of the first quarter of the year, while six armoured aircraft were already in the country, and the first unmanned aerial vehicle would come in before the end of February.

In Dakuku’s words “We expect the first helicopter in the first quarter of this year. Almost all the communication gadgets are in 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”.

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.