The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has unveiled newly acquired security assets, including surveillance technology, drones, armoured vehicles and specialised tactical equipment, to strengthen maritime security and surveillance under its Deep Blue Project.
The assets were unveiled at the 2026 Africa International Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX), as part of efforts to enhance Nigeria’s capacity to combat piracy and other illegal activities in its territorial waters.
The newly acquired equipment includes 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 for personnel deployed under the Deep Blue Project.
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd), was among the dignitaries who visited the NIMASA Deep Blue stand at the exhibition. He also witnessed a tactical simulation demonstrating the project’s response to a piracy attack in Nigerian waters.
Speaking on the development, NIMASA Director-General, Dr Dayo Mobereola, said the acquisition was aimed at strengthening the sustainability and operational capacity of the Deep Blue Project.
Mobereola, who was represented by the Head of the Deep Blue Unit, Aisha Yakubu Idris, said the new equipment would provide military personnel deployed under the initiative with the necessary operational support to sustain the fight against piracy.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to maintaining zero tolerance for illegal activities in its maritime domain, stressing that the country would continue to invest in capabilities that safeguard its waters.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of HLS International, Tal Spektor, the technical partner of the Deep Blue Project, emphasised the importance of regularly upgrading security assets to respond to evolving maritime threats.
Spektor noted that maritime security operations must extend beyond the sea, explaining that illegal offshore activities often have connections with land-based operations.
He further disclosed that improvements to the project’s intelligence systems had enhanced cargo monitoring and information sharing between NIMASA and other government agencies.
AFRIDEX 2026 attracted security organisations from different countries, alongside senior military officers and key stakeholders in Nigeria’s maritime industry.
The unveiling of the new assets underscores ongoing efforts to strengthen the Deep Blue Project’s operational capacity and sustain Nigeria’s gains in maritime security.
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