The Federal Government has announced plans to expand the Deep Blue Project to vulnerable coastal and maritime corridors across the country, including the sensitive Bakassi axis, as part of efforts to further strengthen Nigeria’s maritime security architecture.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, disclosed this on Thursday during the 2026 Graduation Ceremony of 492 Advanced Combat Personnel and Capability Presentation of the Deep Blue Project Task Group held at the 5th Battalion Army Barracks in Elele, Rivers State.
Dr. Oyetola said the planned expansion would target critical coastal areas such as Bakassi Peninsula, Igbokoda and other vulnerable maritime corridors across the country. According to him, the initiative is aimed at consolidating the gains already recorded under the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, popularly known as the Deep Blue Project.
“Building on the significant strides already made, the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy is currently evaluating strategic frameworks for the expansion of the Deep Blue Project to further strengthen our maritime security architecture in critical coastal areas such as Igbokoda, Bakassi, and other vulnerable maritime corridors,” the minister said.
He explained that the move would further curtail maritime insecurity, enhance operational capacity, improve maintenance systems and ensure maritime security assets remain fully functional and effective in safeguarding Nigeria’s waters. The minister stated that Nigeria had recorded zero piracy incidents within its territorial waters over the past four years due to the sustained implementation of the Deep Blue Project and collaboration among security agencies.
He also said that piracy incidents across the Gulf of Guinea had declined by more than 70 per cent within the same period. According to him, prior to the establishment of the Deep Blue Project in 2021, the Gulf of Guinea had become one of the most dangerous maritime corridors globally, accounting for nearly 45 per cent of reported global piracy incidents and over 90 per cent of crew kidnappings at sea during peak periods.
He said the project had significantly transformed Nigeria’s maritime security framework through the deployment of integrated air, land and sea assets supported by advanced surveillance systems and rapid response capabilities. The Minister linked the successes of the project to the Federal Government’s broader economic agenda under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying maritime security remained critical to economic growth, trade facilitation, investment promotion and national development.
He urged the graduating personnel to uphold professionalism, patriotism, teamwork and respect for the rule of law in the discharge of their duties. Oyetola also commended the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, the Armed Forces, security agencies and training partners for their contributions to the success of the initiative.