*Central Security Structure to Secure all Anchorage Areas

*National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure

*Deep Blue Project

Even as efforts intensify to curb maritime crimes for a safer maritime dormain, the Federal Ministry of Transportation, FMOT, may have directed its agencies to work together for national development by fast tracking the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, also called the Deep Blue Project, the central security structure for all anchorage areas in the Nigerian maritime domain.

L-R: Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Chudi Offodile, Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Hadiza Bala-Usman, Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh and Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage

Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ms Hadiza Bala Usman, disclosed this  after a meeting with the Executive Management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) led by the Director General Dr. Bashir Jamoh, at the Agency’s Headquarters in Lagos.

According to Hadiza,  NPA and NIMASA have agreed to work out modalities for effective removal of all wrecks and derelicts that may hinder navigations in the Nigerian waters.

Hadiza Bala Usman, MD, NPA

According to her NIMASA and NPA are sister Agencies and should be seen to be collaborating more for the growth of the maritime industry and the country in general. She also disclosed that arrangements are in top gear to berth the NIMASA floating Docky permanently in order for it to commence operations in July.

In her words “We had a range of discussions bordering on the Secure Anchorage Area which our supervising Ministry desires the  Deep Blue Project to provide security  for all anchorage areas in the country. Aside saving the country a lot of money, it will ensure that the security of the Nigerian Maritime domain is given a focal attention”.

Hadiza also disclosed that both Agencies agreed to interlink the C3i of the NPA and C4i of NIMASA in order to interchange information that would assist the Nigerian Navy’s response to security.

“We have the C3i Command, Control and Intelligence center at NPA and  NIMASA has the c4i while the Navy has falcon eye. We need to interlink these facilities and we believe that this would assist the country in response to maritime security threats”.

Corroborating Hadiza’s stance, Dr. Bashir Jamoh reiterated the fact that there was need to harmonize most of the working models amongst all maritime Agencies to avoid duplication of duties which also leads to more costs.

Jamoh said the Secure Anchorage Area which has been a subject of debate amongst stakeholders would now be covered under the multi spectrum security architecture popularly known as the Deep Blue Project.

“There is absolutely no need for us to have private security in our maritime space. You are aware that this increases the cost of Shipping in our country. By the time the the Deep Blue Project becomes fully operational, the cost of shipping would drastically reduce”, Jamoh said.

The NIMASA DG also pointed out that barring any unforeseen circumstances, the floating Dockyard should be operational by the end of July. A facility he said will employ hundreds of Nigerians directly and also earn huge amount in revenue for the country.

“We are finalizing arrangements with the NPA to get a permanent berth for the floating Dockyard and by the end of July this facility should be operational. The interesting thing is that aside earning a huge amount of revenue, it also has the capacity to employ over 300 Nigerian youths directly”.

The meeting is seen as a major step towards effective collaborations by both Agencies to enhance security in the Nigerian Maritime domain in order to achieve growth for the industry.