Buhari On The Deep Blue Project

I am delighted and pleased to be here for this official flag-off ceremony of the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure project in Nigeria (The DEEP BLUE project).

This project has been initiated to bolster the maritime security architecture and ensure greater enforcement action within Nigerian waters and beyond.

This assemblage of new maritime security assets is coming at a critical time when global discussions are centred on piracy activities and the new dimension it has taken in the Gulf of Guinea region.

With the world’s waters accounting for over 80% of transportation requirements of the global economy, concerted efforts and innovative actions are required to address attendant security challenges.

Therefore, the flag-off of the DEEP BLUE Project marks an important milestone in this regard and in our collective effort to tackle security challenges in the form of piracy and other maritime crimes in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea. It is also a demonstration of the government’s strong commitment to ensuring security.

This intervention, no doubt, will facilitate a conducive environment for the maritime sector to thrive and contribute to the diversification of the Nigerian economy.

The DEEP BLUE project is a critical step towards realising maritime security in the region, which underscores Nigeria’s commitment to providing the necessary framework and resources in cooperation with other nations and maritime users.

This is evident in the recently established Gulf of Guinea Maritime Collaboration Framework by Nigeria and the Inter-regional Coordination Centre Yaoundé through the facilitation of NIMASA/Industry Joint Working Group to tackle maritime security in the region.

This forum is to help galvanize regional and international efforts to ensure security in the Gulf of Guinea. Its main focus is counter piracy and armed robbery prevention by bringing together regional, international, industry and NGO partners to advance and coordinate near-term maritime activities, with a view to working towards a set of common operational objectives off the coast of west and central Africa.

Therefore, I commend this initiative and use this opportunity to call on the Member States and other stakeholders to join, work collectively to pursue this common objective, and, most importantly, keep our seafarers safe.

I am confident that the project, which provides a robust maritime security architecture, will enhance maritime domain awareness capability and improve law enforcement action, particularly in the prosecution of suspects under the Suppression of Piracy and other Maritime Offences Act which I signed into law in June 2019.

In this regard, since the coming into force of the law, I have been informed that ten convictions have been secured for various offences under the Act.

This Flag-off is an important step in the continuing shift in strategic action about regional maritime security. It will serve as a benchmark for member states in the Gulf of Guinea and other relevant stakeholders to further develop innovative strategies and align efforts with the subsisting framework to improve maritime security in the region.

I commend the Honourable Minister of Transportation, Honourable Minister of Defence, the Chief of Naval Staff, the Director-General NIMASA, Members of the Steering Committee and the Project Management Team and all other government stakeholders who have worked together to bring this initiative of the administration to fruition.

Being address by his Excellency Muhammadu Buhari President of The Federal Republic of Nigeria, at the official flag-off of the integrated national security and waterways protection infrastructure in Nigeria (Deep Blue Project) at the underwater warfare College, Naval Base Ojo Lagos, Thursday 10 June 2021.