The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has unveiled newly acquired tactical and surveillance assets for the Deep Blue Project as part of efforts to strengthen maritime security and sustain the fight against piracy in Nigerian waters.
The assets, unveiled at the 2026 Africa International Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX), include light utility vehicles designed for bush and land-based operations, vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicles, newly delivered armoured vehicles and specialised tactical equipment.
The Director-General of NIMASA, Dr Dayo Mobereola, said the acquisitions were aimed at strengthening the operational capacity and sustainability of the Deep Blue Project, ensuring that military personnel deployed under the initiative had adequate equipment to tackle piracy and other maritime security threats.
Mobereola, who was represented at the exhibition by the Head of the Deep Blue Unit, Aisha Yakubu Idris, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to sustaining a zero-tolerance stance against illegal activities in Nigeria’s territorial waters.
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd), was among the dignitaries who visited the NIMASA Deep Blue Project stand at the exhibition. He also witnessed a tactical simulation demonstrating the response to a piracy attack in Nigerian waters.
Speaking on the importance of continuously upgrading the project’s operational capabilities, the Chief Executive Officer of HLS International, Tal Spektor, said regular equipment upgrades were necessary to address evolving maritime security threats.
Spektor, whose organisation is the technical partner of the Deep Blue Project, stressed that maritime security operations must extend beyond the sea, noting that illegal offshore activities often have connections to land-based operations.
He also disclosed that upgrades to the project’s intelligence systems had improved cargo monitoring and information sharing between NIMASA and other government agencies, strengthening coordination in maritime security operations.
AFRIDEX 2026 attracted security organisations from different countries, alongside senior military officers and key stakeholders in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
