By Elvis Onuigbo
NIMASA and the Nigerian Air Force have renewed their strategic partnership to enhance maritime security, protect offshore assets, and strengthen Nigeria’s growing blue economy.
NIMASA and the Nigerian Air Force have renewed their strategic partnership to enhance maritime security, protect offshore assets, and strengthen Nigeria’s growing blue economy.In a renewed effort to secure Nigeria’s vast maritime resources, the Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, has reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
Mobereola made this known during a strategic visit to the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, at the NAF Headquarters in Abuja. The high-level meeting signals a stronger alliance between Nigeria’s maritime and air security authorities aimed at safeguarding the nation’s territorial waters and critical offshore infrastructure.
Strengthening Maritime-Air Security Synergy
Details of the engagement were disclosed in a statement issued by Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information at the Air Force Headquarters.
According to the statement, both agencies discussed practical steps to consolidate operational cooperation, improve maritime domain awareness, and support the Federal Government’s expanding blue economy agenda.
Mobereola emphasized that maritime security is not just about defense—it is directly tied to Nigeria’s economic stability, international trade credibility, and investor confidence. He noted that Nigeria has recorded zero piracy incidents within its territorial waters over the past four years, describing the achievement as a testament to effective collaboration among the Armed Forces and other security stakeholders.
He explained that this milestone has significantly boosted Nigeria’s standing in the global maritime community and created a safer environment for commercial shipping and offshore investment.
Rising Maritime Traffic Demands Vigilance
Despite the success, the NIMASA boss cautioned that growing maritime traffic across Nigeria’s coastal and inland waterways requires sustained vigilance.
“With increased shipping activities comes the need for continuous surveillance, intelligence gathering, and rapid-response capability,” Mobereola stressed.
He added that deeper operational ties with the Air Force would ensure consistent aerial monitoring and proactive deterrence, especially as Nigeria positions itself as a key player in Africa’s blue economy.
Air Force Reaffirms Operational Readiness
In his remarks, Air Marshal Aneke reiterated the Nigerian Air Force’s readiness to sustain and expand its maritime support operations.
He highlighted the NAF’s capabilities, including long-range surveillance aircraft, maritime patrol platforms, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), and rapid-response air assets strategically deployed for coastal operations.
According to him, these platforms provide real-time situational awareness, precision tracking, and coordinated intervention—critical components in protecting sea lines of communication and offshore installations.
The Air Chief also underscored the importance of advanced sensor systems, data-link technologies, and efficient inter-agency communication frameworks. He noted that seamless information sharing remains the backbone of successful maritime security operations.
“Air power remains a decisive force multiplier in maritime security operations, offering speed, flexibility, and reach that significantly enhance deterrence and enforcement capabilities in support of the Deep Blue Project,” Aneke stated.
A Stronger Foundation for Nigeria’s Blue Economy
The renewed engagement between NIMASA and the Nigerian Air Force reflects a shared determination to reinforce Nigeria’s maritime security architecture.
As the country intensifies efforts to harness its ocean-based resources under the blue economy initiative, stronger coordination between maritime and air security components will be vital. The collaboration is expected to not only secure Nigeria’s waters but also create a stable foundation for sustainable economic growth and increased investor confidence.