NIMASA Unveils New Tactical Assets to Strengthen Deep Blue Projects at AFRIDEX 2026
NIMASA Unveils New Tactical Assets to Strengthen Deep Blue Project at AFRIDEX 2026
By Babatunde Aremu
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has unveiled newly acquired security assets and advanced surveillance equipment to strengthen maritime security and combat piracy in Nigerian waters under the Deep Blue Project.
The assets, unveiled at the 2026 Africa International Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX), include vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicles, light utility vehicles designed for land-based and bush operations, newly delivered armoured vehicles and specialised tactical equipment.
The development is aimed at enhancing the operational capacity of the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, popularly known as the Deep Blue Project.
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd), was among the dignitaries who visited the NIMASA Deep Blue exhibition stand, where he 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 newly acquired assets would strengthen the sustainability of the Deep Blue Project and provide military personnel deployed under the initiative with the necessary equipment to sustain the fight against maritime crimes.
Mobereola, who was represented by the Head of the Deep Blue Unit, Mrs Aisha Yakubu Idris, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to maintaining zero tolerance for illegal activities in its maritime domain.
He stressed that continuous investment in operational equipment and technology remained critical to safeguarding the country’s territorial waters and sustaining the gains recorded in maritime security.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of Homeland Security International (HLSI), the technical partner to the Deep Blue Project, Tal Spektor, emphasised the importance of regularly upgrading security assets to address 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 criminal operations.
He further disclosed that upgrades to the project’s intelligence systems had enhanced cargo monitoring and improved information sharing between NIMASA and other relevant government agencies.
AFRIDEX 2026 attracted reputable security organisations from different countries, alongside senior military officers and key stakeholders in Nigeria’s maritime industry.
The unveiling underscores NIMASA’s continued commitment to strengthening maritime security infrastructure, improving surveillance capabilities and protecting Nigeria’s waterways against piracy and other maritime threats.
