The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening operational collaboration to enhance maritime security and support Nigeria’s blue economy agenda.
This formed the focus of discussions when the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NIMASA, Dr Dayo Mobereola, paid a courtesy visit to the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, at the NAF Headquarters in Abuja on Friday.
In a statement issued by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the strategic engagement centred on consolidating air–maritime synergy in support of Nigeria’s Deep Blue Project and strengthening maritime domain awareness.
Speaking during the visit, Dr Mobereola emphasised that maritime security remains critical to economic stability, international trade and sustained investor confidence. He noted that Nigeria has recorded a sustained, long-term trend of zero piracy incidents within its territorial waters over the past four years, describing the achievement as a testament to the professionalism and coordinated efforts of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies.
According to him, the milestone has enhanced Nigeria’s global maritime reputation and created a safer environment for commerce and shipping activities.
The NIMASA DG further stated that the increasing volume of maritime traffic across Nigeria’s coastal and inland waterways requires sustained vigilance, advanced surveillance and rapid response capabilities.
He stressed that strengthened collaboration with the Nigerian Air Force would guarantee continuous aerial monitoring, timely intelligence sharing and proactive deterrence to protect maritime assets and unlock the full potential of the nation’s maritime resources.
In his response, Air Marshal Aneke assured the agency of the NAF’s unwavering commitment to enhanced operational synergy. He highlighted the Air Force’s robust air capabilities tailored to maritime operations, including long-range surveillance aircraft, maritime patrol-configured platforms, unmanned aerial vehicles for persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, as well as rapid-response air assets capable of swift deployment across coastal corridors.
He explained that these platforms provide real-time situational awareness, precision tracking and coordinated response, which are essential for securing sea lines of communication and safeguarding critical offshore infrastructure.
The Chief of the Air Staff also underscored the importance of integrating advanced sensors, data-link systems and inter-agency communication frameworks to enable seamless information sharing and coordination among relevant security agencies.
He maintained that air power remains a decisive force multiplier in maritime security operations due to its speed, flexibility and reach, which significantly enhance deterrence and enforcement efforts in support of the Deep Blue Project.
Both organisations reaffirmed their shared strategic vision to strengthen Nigeria’s maritime security architecture, safeguard the nation’s waterways and support the Federal Government’s drive to harness the country’s vast maritime resources for sustainable development, economic growth and job creation.
