By Stephen Ubanna
This is not the best of times for the Pirates, sea robbers and other criminal elements operating in coastal countries like Nigeria and other coastal nations situated along the Gulf of Guinea region. These are coastal countries which includes Republic of Benin, Cote de’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Togo. Other countries that are situated along the Gulf of Guinea regions includes Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea Bissau, and Sao Tome Precipe.
The Pirates and sea robbers may be digging their own grave if they dare should continue the Dayo Mobereola, the new Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, this time around.
The NIMASA, Chief Executive Officer, CEO,who has vowed to sustain the tempo of anti-piracy policy inherited from Bashir Jamoh, his predecessor, appears to have found an answer to address the challenges of the Nigerian maritime domain and the Gulf of Guinea region: sharing of information with other Government agencies.
The NIMASA, CEO, who could not hide his feelings was a said to have opened up during the recent visit of Bello Matawalle, a former governor of Zamfara, home state of the Bandits Group, in north western geopolitical region and now minister of state, ministry of Defense, to the agency.
The NIMASA, helmsman was said to have told the minister who had listened with rapt attention to him that ‘’effective synchronization of the maritime regulatory agency’s Command and Control ,Computer, Communication and Information system, centre, C4i and the Falcon eye of the Nigerian Navy will go a long way to boost the Federal Government’s efforts in reaping the benefits of the Blue Economy.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari had engaged the Israeli firm HLSI, to supply set maritime security equipment to the country to be domiciled in NIMASA, on the contract sum of $195 million, of North American country of the United States, US, dollars, to prosecute the Blue Economy project.
The Israeli firm, which had won the multi-million dollars contract was said to have been given the mandate to supply 16 coastal patrol vessels, 17 Interception Boats, two Special Mission Vessels, two Special Mission aircrafts for surveillance of Nigerian Economic Zone, , EEZ, three helicopters and four unmanned aerial vehicles and which had been delivered to the agency.
Note that the sea security equipment are operated and managed by the Nigerian Navy, under the close watch of Emmanuel Ogalla, a Vice Admiral while the air equipment are operated and managed by the Air Force. Already, the maritime security equipment have been deployed into operations, thus making piracy activities and attack on ocean going vessels laden with cargoes difficult in Nigeria maritime space and the Gulf of Guinea region in the recent times.
Mobereola, the NIMASA, boss, who was said to have been represented by Fatai Adyemi, an Engineer and Executive Director, operations, was said to have received the minister of state , Defense .The NIMASA, Executive Director, may have spoken the mind of the Director General when he declared that ‘’improved information sharing between the agency and Vice Vice Admiral Ogalla led Nigerian Navy, will enhance the capability of the various maritime related security agencies in curbing crimes in the nation’s waters.
An elated Eng. Adeyemi, who had received Matawalle, the minister of state, Defense had said that the visit was a clear demonstration of the commitment of the President Bola Ahemed Tinubu’s Administration to encourage effective collaboration amongst all government agencies to achieve a common goal: maritime security.
The minister, who may have taken advantage of the visit to NIMASA, to rub minds with the Mobereola led Management team, was had aid that the Federal Government’s commitment ‘’ to integrating the operations the C4i, of NIMASA and the Falcon Eye system of the Nigerian Navy , described as ‘’the state of the-art surveillance facility’’ that operates sensors located along the nation’s enormous coatline , such a radars, long range electro optic systems with thermal or night vision facility, automatic identification receivers, weather stations and marine high frequency radios for communication will enhance the security of the country’s maritime space and engender economic prosperity.
xHe noted that the integration of these sensors into the Falcon eye system will generate real-time situational awareness of the vessels operating in Nigerian waters and some selected parts in the Gulf of Guinea.It was not surprising why he has called for improved collaboration between the Nigerian Navy and BNIMASA, particular, in the areas of the C4i system and the Falcon eye platforms which are expected ’’ to the courage of both local and massively complement each other’’.
The former Zamfara state governor who had visited the NIMASA C4i center at Kirikri, Lagos, the nation’s Commercial nerve center to inspect the operational model of the facility had told those that cares to listen that ‘’Nigeria will benefit much more if all the agencies of government can synergize seamlessly and improve information sharing amongst one another’’.
The minister may have gladdened the heart of the NIMASA Director General and his Management team when he asserted that the goal of the ministry is to see the NIMASA C4i center integrated with the Nigerian Navy Falcon eye in order to secure the country’s maritime domain.
Matawalle , the former Zamfara state governor was emphatic that the Nigerian Navy, which currently manages and operates the NIMASA, domiciled sea security equipment, must work together ‘’to create the desired maritime environment for a prosperous blue economy’’.
He was said to have repeatedly said that the two government agencies must work together to be integrated so that they will be communicating with each other without out any hindrance. Hear Him: if the Falcon eye and the NIMASA c4i are communication effectively, Nigerian maritime domain will be devoid of any security challenges but will boost both local and foreign investors in the sector.
