NIMASA, Navy tackling insecurity, says Jamoh

The Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Maritime Administration and
Safety Agency (NIMASA) have strengthened maritime security with the
deployment of hitech assets for vessel protection.

Both organisations are intensifying efforts to protect,
interdict, and deter threats around vessels anchored in the Secure
Anchorage Area (SAA), off the coast of Lagos.

Director-General, NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, made this known in
Lagos during a visit by officials of the Shipping Association of
Nigeria (SAN).

Jamoh said the effort was encapsulated in the deployment of
assets under the Integrated National Security and Waterways
Protection Infrastructure, also called the Deep Blue Project.

The deployment is on-going with the primary aim of providing
security on the waters and the Gulf of Guinea and tackling the
security challenges in shipping.

“We are deploying high-tech assets under the Deep Blue Project
to not only deal with piracy and armed robbery in our territorial
waters frontally but also respond to the increasing sophistication
of these maritime crimes.

“The Nigerian Navy and NIMASA are partnering to ensure a high
level of security in our waters. We are tying up all loose ends and
very soon everything would become manifest and clear to
stakeholders and operators,” he added.

The DG, who spoke in response to security concerns raised by SAN
following the cancellation of the SAA contract by President
Muhammadu Buhari and transfer of the job to NIMASA and the Nigerian
Navy, said there was no security vacuum in the sector.

“I can assure you that there is no security vacuum in our
waters. From what I know, the SAA is more protected than ever
before. The Nigerian Navy recently deployed 14 warships to enhance
security in the area and the wider maritime domain. Other assets,
including special mission vessels, interceptor boats, and special
mission aircraft, are also being deployed under the Deep Blue
Project,’’ Jamoh added.

“Besides, there is an emergency mobile line for any vessel in
distress in our waters, +2348030685167, and the NIMASA emergency
response room can be reached on Channel 16 of the Very High
Frequency (VHF) radio channel.”

He added, “The menace of maritime insecurity is an age-long
challenge in the industry, and government is doing its best within
the available resources to address the issues, with continuous
patrols by dedicated vessels to the Secure Anchorage Area. We
appeal for a healthy working relationship and further deliberations
are welcome.”

He said NIMASA was networking with international bodies, such as
INTERTANKO and INTERCARGO, to ensure security in the Gulf of
Guinea, with the Yaoundé-based International Coordination Centre
(ICC) also playing a central role.

The DG told stakeholders to always contact the Command, Control,
Computer Communication and intelligence (C4i) centre located at the
NIMASA-owned Nigerian Maritime Resource Development Centre (NMRDC),
Kirikiri, in Lagos, for necessary actions under the Suppression of
Piracy and other Maritime Offences (SPOMO) Act.

The spokesperson for the group and Managing Director of
Mediterranean Shipping Company, Andrew Lynch, had urged the NIMASA
management to intensify measures to maintain security in the
SAA.

Representatives of major shipping lines operating in Nigeria,
who attended the meeting, included the Managing Director of
Grimaldi Nigeria, Ascanio Russo, and Managing Director of CUA-
shipping, Haul Odeyer. Maersk Nigeria and GAC also had
representation at the meeting.

The Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Maritime Administration and
Safety Agency (NIMASA) have strengthened maritime security with the
deployment of hitech assets for vessel protection.

Both organisations are intensifying efforts to protect,
interdict, and deter threats around vessels anchored in the Secure
Anchorage Area (SAA), off the coast of Lagos.

Director-General, NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, made this known in
Lagos during a visit by officials of the Shipping Association of
Nigeria (SAN).

Jamoh said the effort was encapsulated in the deployment of
assets under the Integrated National Security and Waterways
Protection Infrastructure, also called the Deep Blue Project.

The deployment is on-going with the primary aim of providing
security on the waters and the Gulf of Guinea and tackling the
security challenges in shipping.

“We are deploying high-tech assets under the Deep Blue Project
to not only deal with piracy and armed robbery in our territorial
waters frontally but also respond to the increasing sophistication
of these maritime crimes.

“The Nigerian Navy and NIMASA are partnering to ensure a high
level of security in our waters. We are tying up all loose ends and
very soon everything would become manifest and clear to
stakeholders and operators,” he added.

The DG, who spoke in response to security concerns raised by SAN
following the cancellation of the SAA contract by President
Muhammadu Buhari and transfer of the job to NIMASA and the Nigerian
Navy, said there was no security vacuum in the sector.

“I can assure you that there is no security vacuum in our
waters. From what I know, the SAA is more protected than ever
before. The Nigerian Navy recently deployed 14 warships to enhance
security in the area and the wider maritime domain. Other assets,
including special mission vessels, interceptor boats, and special
mission aircraft, are also being deployed under the Deep Blue
Project,’’ Jamoh added.

“Besides, there is an emergency mobile line for any vessel in
distress in our waters, +2348030685167, and the NIMASA emergency
response room can be reached on Channel 16 of the Very High
Frequency (VHF) radio channel.”

He added, “The menace of maritime insecurity is an age-long
challenge in the industry, and government is doing its best within
the available resources to address the issues, with continuous
patrols by dedicated vessels to the Secure Anchorage Area. We
appeal for a healthy working relationship and further deliberations
are welcome.”

He said NIMASA was networking with international bodies, such as
INTERTANKO and INTERCARGO, to ensure security in the Gulf of
Guinea, with the Yaoundé-based International Coordination Centre
(ICC) also playing a central role.

The DG told stakeholders to always contact the Command, Control,
Computer Communication and intelligence (C4i) centre located at the
NIMASA-owned Nigerian Maritime Resource Development Centre (NMRDC),
Kirikiri, in Lagos, for necessary actions under the Suppression of
Piracy and other Maritime Offences (SPOMO) Act.

The spokesperson for the group and Managing Director of
Mediterranean Shipping Company, Andrew Lynch, had urged the NIMASA
management to intensify measures to maintain security in the
SAA.

Representatives of major shipping lines operating in Nigeria,
who attended the meeting, included the Managing Director of
Grimaldi Nigeria, Ascanio Russo, and Managing Director of CUA-
shipping, Haul Odeyer. Maersk Nigeria and GAC also had
representation at the meeting.