The Nigerian Navy has disclosed that security assets acquired under the Deep Blue Project have been deployed across the South West, Central and Eastern Zonal operations to enhance adequate patrol of the Nigerian maritime domain.
  
The assets were acquired by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, (NIMASA) under the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, otherwise known as the Deep Blue project.
   
The acting Fleet Commander, Western Naval Command and Commander Deep Blue Project, Commodore Victor Choji, made the declaration, during a working visit by the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Mohammed Abdullahi to the Management of NIMASA. 

He added that the Nigerian Navy under the leadership of the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, is fully committed to the success of the Deep Blue Project.
   
During the interactive session, he said: “The assets have already been well deployed. As we speak, five armored vehicles are deployed in Port Harcourt and three in Bonny.” 
    
He also said that during the country’s last general elections, the presence of the deep blue assets provided the needed inference that was required in the locations they were deployed.
  
Choji also said that in the Central Zone Command, the Navy has deployed three units of special mission elements in brass and two of the interceptor boats with the special intervention force elements in central command. 
 
Meanwhile, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh, has restated the agency’s commitment to a robust relationship with the Nigerian Navy towards the country’s economic development.
  
“I want to believe that the Agency and the Nigerian Navy have a lot in common to ensure safety and security in the nation’s waters. While the Nigerian Navy takes care of the kinetic operations, NIMASA concentrates on non-kinetic operations, and the two will have to go hand in hand if we must succeed,” he said.
  
Jamoh expressed the desire of NIMASA to earn full value for funds invested and still investing in the operations of the Deep Blue Project.

guardian