NIMASA and the Nigerian Air Force have pledged to deepen their collaboration in a bid to bolster maritime security and sustain the success of the Deep Blue Project, according to officials.

Dr. Dayo Mobereola, Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), visited the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall S. K. Aneke, at the NAF Headquarters in Abuja on Friday to seek enhanced cooperation between the two agencies.

“We are here to seek the Air Force’s support given the importance of tactical air surveillance to the Deep Blue Project,” Mobereola said during the visit. He noted that Nigeria has maintained a record of zero piracy in the Gulf of Guinea for the past four years, a feat attributed to the Deep Blue Project.

Mobereola emphasized that international trade relies heavily on security, adding that vessels prefer to transit through countries that provide a secure environment. “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,” he said.

The NIMASA DG expressed hope that the collaboration with the Nigerian Air Force would reduce response times in maritime operations. He added that the partnership is crucial to sustaining the progress made with the Deep Blue Project, which has significantly reduced piracy and sea robberies in the region.

Air Marshall S.K. Aneke, the Chief of Air Staff, welcomed the collaboration, stating that the Nigerian Air Force is ready to work closely with NIMASA. He said the Air Force is committed to being a “supportive and collaborative partner” and pledged to match the Agency’s efforts step by step.

Aneke outlined several measures to strengthen the partnership, including the establishment of a joint strategic framework, integrated command structures, and a standing steering committee to ensure shared objectives and accountability. He also proposed the creation of a joint maritime domain awareness fusion cell to enable real-time intelligence sharing and synchronized surveillance.

“Collaboration between NIMASA and the Nigerian Air Force under the Deep Blue Project can be strengthened through these initiatives,” Aneke said, adding that the Air Force can support NIMASA beyond the project by providing ISR platforms, tactical air support, and rapid airborne deployment for interdictions and search and rescue missions.

Aneke also thanked NIMASA for the training provided to Nigerian Air Force pilots under the Deep Blue Project. However, he highlighted operational challenges that need to be addressed, including bridging the communication gap between NAF operators and NIMASA, providing higher-level maintenance training, ensuring readily available fueling for aircraft to avoid mission delays, and supplying flying kits.

He assured that the Nigerian Air Force would work to resolve these issues and pledged that the collaboration would move at “thrice its speed” going forward. The two agencies are expected to formalize their partnership in the coming weeks to ensure sustained operational effectiveness across Nigeria’s territorial waters and exclusive economic zone.