NIMASA deploys drones, armoured vehicles against sea crimes

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency’s Deep Blue Project has introduced advanced surveillance technology, including unmanned aerial vehicles, armoured vehicles and other tactical equipment, to enhance maritime security operations and curb illegal activities within Nigeria’s territorial waters.

The new equipment was presented on Tuesday by the Chief Executive Officer of HLS International, Tal Spektor, a technical partner to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency on the Deep Blue Project, during the Africa International Defence Exhibition in Lagos.

Speaking at the event, Spektor said the project, which operates under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence, “delivers comprehensive maritime security through intelligence gathering, surveillance and coordinated enforcement operations.”

He explained that the project’s Command and Control Centre enables authorities to monitor vessels travelling from different parts of the world into Nigeria’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

“The system provides information on vessel ownership, International Maritime Organisation identification numbers, Automatic Identification System status and other intelligence needed to track maritime movements and identify suspicious activities,” Spektor said.

According to him, the recent upgrades to the project’s intelligence systems had improved its ability to monitor cargo movements and provide information relevant to NIMASA and other government agencies.

“Among the equipment displayed were a light utility vehicle for bush and land operations, a vertical take-off and landing unmanned aerial vehicle, a newly delivered armoured vehicle and tactical equipment for the project’s special operations unit,” he said.

Spektor emphasised that the VTOL drone could take off and land vertically, enabling it to operate from vessels at sea or from land and provide surveillance information during daytime and nighttime operations.

He noted that the tactical UAV system had been used in different operations over the past two years, stressing that continuous technological upgrades were necessary to maintain operational effectiveness against evolving maritime threats.

The armoured vehicle, he said, would support special forces deployed to different operational environments, while the tactical equipment on display included night-vision devices, uniforms, arms and ammunition.

He stressed that maritime security operations must extend beyond the sea because illegal activities occurring offshore often have links to activities on land.

“Any illegal activity at sea will always start from the land, hence the importance of strengthening the operational capacity of personnel working under the Deep Blue Project,” he said.

Spektor said the project’s responsibilities extend beyond combating piracy, militancy and the trafficking of arms and ammunition.

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He highlighted that the equipment would support efforts to tackle illegal fishing, protect Nigeria’s marine environment, enforce maritime regulations and safeguard government revenue.

He cautioned that illegal fishing threatens the livelihoods of coastal communities, while the unauthorised disposal of hazardous waste at sea could harm marine ecosystems, deplete fish stocks and expose Nigerians to environmental and health hazards.

He added that effective surveillance and enforcement could help ensure that vessels operating in Nigerian waters comply with applicable laws and regulations.

Spektor also linked maritime security to the country’s economic interests, noting that improved enforcement could strengthen confidence in Nigeria’s maritime environment and support the financial interests of relevant government agencies.

He said the benefits of maritime security were not always immediately visible to members of the public, but could influence the safety of goods transported by sea, the cost of maritime insurance and the broader conditions for international trade.

The HLS International chief executive also pointed to notable gains in Nigeria’s global maritime reputation, crediting the progress to collaborative efforts by NIMASA, the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, the Ministry of Defence and other security agencies.

He said Nigeria’s maritime security gains had contributed to the country’s removal from international maritime blacklists and red lists, as well as its successful election into Category C of the International Maritime Organisation Council.

He further cited the lifting of American sanctions after 12 years as part of the wider international developments he associated with improvements in Nigeria’s maritime and security environment.

Spektor described the Deep Blue Project as an example of cooperation between civilian institutions and security agencies, arguing that effective maritime governance requires joint operations, reliable intelligence and regular investment in modern technology.

He said the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, NIMASA and other security agencies were working together to advance Nigeria’s maritime development and strengthen enforcement across the country’s maritime domain.

The presentation formed part of a major international and African exhibition featuring maritime security and defence capabilities.

He reaffirmed HLS International’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s maritime security objectives through technology, training and operational assistance.