The Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola is seeking enhanced cooperation between the agency and the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) with the aim of strengthening tactical air support within the deep blue project.
Mobereola who said this during a courtesy visit to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall S. K. Aneke at the NAF Headquarters, Abuja recently emphasized the role of NAF as a strategic partner in enhancing maritime security in Nigeria and sustaining the momentum of the deep blue project’s success.
His words: “We are here to seek the Air Force’s support given the importance of tactical air surveillance to the deep blue project. Nigeria is the only African country with the record of zero piracy within the last 4 years. The deep blue project platforms have been used to achieve zero piracy and sea robberies in the Gulf of Guinea and we need your collaboration to sustain this momentum”.
He emphasized that international trade depends on security which is why vessels prefer to go to or transit through countries where they are secured.
“With the traffic we have now, we need to show more security might through collaboration to strengthen our trade viability because of the risks attached to our route. We need these collaborations to sustain what we have achieved so far with the deep blue project”, he said.
NIMASA in a statement signed by its Deputy Director and Head, Public Relations, Mr. Edward Osagie quoted Mobereola expressing hope that the collaboration with NAF will reduce response time.
According to the statement which was made available to Maritime Bits, Air Marshall Aneke in his response noted that the Air Force desires to be “a very supportive and collaborative partner with NIMASA and is ready to match the Agency step by step and side by side to achieve the desired results.”
Aneke noted that collaboration between NIMASA and the Nigerian Air Force under the deep blue project can be strengthened through a joint strategic framework, integrated command structures, and a standing steering committee to ensure shared objectives and accountability.
He averred that establishing a joint maritime domain awareness fusion cell will enable real-time intelligence sharing, synchronized surveillance, and faster response to maritime threats and ensure sustained operational effectiveness across Nigeria’s territorial waters and exclusive economic zone.
He added that the Air Force can also support NIMASA outside the deep blue project operations by providing its own ISR platforms, tactical air support, and rapid airborne deployment for interdictions and search and rescue missions.
While thanking Mobereola for the basic trainings the agency has provided the aircraft pilots under the deep blue project, Aneke also highlighted areas of operational challenges needing NIMASA’s attention to include bridging the communication gap between NAF operators and NIMASA, higher level and in-depth maintenance trainings, readily available fueling of aircrafts to avoid delays on missions, and provision of flying kits among others.
He pledged NAF collaboration just as he assured that the request by NIMASA has been noted.
He also promised that things will begin to move at thrice its speed henceforth.
