Nigerian Association of Master Mariners has commended the decision of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency to deploy gun boats and patrol vessels to secure the country’s water.
The president of NAMM, Tajudeen Alao, disclosed this in an interview with Financial Street on Saturday.
According to him, the association is solidly behind the move by NIMASA, adding that detection and deterrent are very strategic in security.
The Director-!General of NIMASA, Bashir Jamoh, had, in an event in Lagos on Friday, announced that the agency had begun the deployment of eight gunboats and two patrol vessels to man the deep blue project initiative in furtherance to take over the controversial Secure Anchorage Area.
Jamoh, who was represented at the event by the Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Victor Ochei, added that the agency had commenced training of personnel in Cyprus and Portugal, as part of measures towards deployment of other maritime assets to ensure secure anchorage.
”The deep blue project cuts across not just NIMASA alone, but NIMASA is championing it as we speak. However, the deployment of our assets have just started as regards ceding of the secure anchorage to NIMASA. Now we must ensure that the anchorage is properly protected; so we deploy some of the assets of the blue deep project to ensure security of our waters,” he said.
Reacting to this development, Alao said, “When your enemy knows you have capability to detect and monitor, the enemy will not dare you. Investors will have confidence in your territory, all things being equal.
“Deploying your modern technology, in collaboration with foreign powers, is reassuring. You participate from position of strength of other structures are available.”
Alao said that they would be working with the trained personnel.
He also said that the move was in tandem with the international obligation of Nigeria’s maritime domain awareness and security.
